Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, presented awards to Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EODMU) 8 during an awards and quarters ceremony at Naval Station Rota, Spain, Aug 9, 2019. Accompanying Franchetti was Rear Adm. William J. Houston, deputy commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, and U.S. 6th Fleet Command Master Chief Johannes J. Gonzalez.
EODMU 8, assigned to commander, Task Force (CTF) 68, remains consistently engaged across two continents conducting EOD, counter-improvised explosive devices (IED) and mine-countermeasure operations supporting U.S. military forces and NATO partners across U.S. 6th fleet.
“It was a true honor to be with EODMU 8 and recognize these Sailors who are on the front line every day advancing our Navy Strategy and building relationships with critical partners,” said Franchetti. “Their dedication to service and hard work is an example to us all and a testament to the great Sailors we have serving in the United States Navy.”
Sailors were awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Junior Sailor of the Quarter, and Blue Jacket of the Quarter. Franchetti also presented the Senior EOD Technician Warfare Device to Explosive Ordnance Disposalman 2nd Class Austin Donelson.
“It was a great opportunity to have Vice Adm. Franchetti, Master Chief Gonzalez, and Rear Adm. Houston” said Cmdr. Jeffrey M. DeMarco, commanding officer of EODMU 8. “The crew thoroughly enjoyed interacting with U.S. 6th fleet leadership as Vice Adm. Franchetti highlighted how impactful EODMU 8 efforts were to U.S. 6th fleet strategy and objectives. This was a great occasion to showcase the unique capabilities EOD and Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) bring to support those objectives.”
EODMU 8, homeported in Naval Station Rota, Spain, provides EOD capability to locate, identify, render safe, recover, field evaluate and dispose of all explosive ordnance, including underwater, biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.
Commander, Task Force 68 commands all Naval Expeditionary Forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility in direct support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. 6th Fleet Maritime and theater security cooperation strategies and maritime support plans. Capabilities include security,explosive ordinance disposal, expeditionary construction, diving and salvage, counter IED, and hydrographic survey and expeditionary intelligence.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.