GAETA, Italy –
Capt. Harry C. Evans III relieved Capt. Colin Price as commanding officer of Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) during a ceremony held aboard the ship, July 31.
Mount Whitney is the flagship of U.S. 6th Fleet and the afloat command platform for Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO). During his tour, Price directed the ship’s demanding operational schedule across the European and African theaters, leading the crew through major multinational exercises, critical maintenance periods and high-level diplomatic engagements.
Vice Adm. J. T. Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet and STRIKFORNATO, presided over the ceremony.
“Mount Whitney's command and control capabilities allow us to coordinate complex operations across vast distances,” Anderson said. "Capt. Price inherited a unique ship with a unique mission and an operational schedule that requires constant readiness. He met that challenge with steady leadership, professionalism and resolve."
Under Price’s leadership, Mount Whitney supported exercise Baltic Operations 2025 and 2026, Obangame Express 2025 and numerous command and control missions in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
Mount Whitney also visited several key ports throughout Europe and Africa, to include Cyprus, Tunisia, Mauritania, Latvia and Montenegro. In April 2025, Mount Whitney conducted historic dual-port visits to Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya, marking the first time a U.S. Navy warship had visited the country in 56 years.
This milestone, alongside the ship's pioneering September 2025 visit to Porto Romano in Durrës, Albania, served as powerful demonstrations of U.S. commitment to regional stability, expanding maritime partnerships in North Africa while reinforcing critical NATO alliances on the southern flank.
Price also led the crew of Mount Whitney in the successful completion of critical maintenance periods in Genoa, Italy, supporting continued mission readiness and sustained operations throughout the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
“It has been an honor to serve alongside Team 20 on the flagship of U.S. 6th Fleet,” said Price. “Every day, they rose to the challenge, demonstrating our commitment to U.S. Allies and partners and helping preserve regional security and stability in the region. Mount Whitney is in outstanding hands with Capt. Evans, and I know Team 20 will continue to get the job done, on target and on time.”
A time-honored naval tradition, this ceremony allows the crew to formally acknowledge the passing of command from the outgoing commanding officer to the incoming commanding officer.
“As commanding officer, I will lead Team 20 with integrity, humility and respect,” said Evans. “USS Mount Whitney plays a vital role in supporting U.S. 6th Fleet and STRIKFORNATO operations while strengthening relationships with our Allies and partners. I look forward to serving alongside this exceptional military-civilian team and ensuring we remain ready to answer the call, whenever and wherever we are needed.”
Evans graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in January 2005. His operational assignments include service with the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, the “Diamondbacks” of VFA-102 and the “Black Aces” of VFA-41, with multiple deployments aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
Evans graduated from the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School in 2009 and subsequently served as a strike fighter tactics instructor at Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific. In 2022, Evans graduated from the United States Naval War College with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and Strike/Flight Air Medal.
Evans reported to Mount Whitney after serving as executive officer of Ronald Reagan.
Forward deployed to Gaeta, Italy, Mount Whitney operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, supporting U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.
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, to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
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