NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain –
Vice Adm. Robert Burke, deputy chief of naval operations, visited the officers and crews of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ross (DDG 71) and USS Carney (DDG 64) Nov. 6, 2017.
The presence of both ships in Spain is a demonstration of the U.S. Navy’s continued commitment to strengthening our strategic partnerships in the European region. Burke met with the senior leadership before conducting an all-hands call and a khaki call on the flight deck of Ross. He discussed upcoming changes to Navy policy regarding manning issues and training, and how those changes would affect the forward-deployed destroyers.
“It was an honor to host Vice Adm. Burke onboard Ross and it was a great opportunity for the crew to hear firsthand the future policies of the Navy,” said Cmdr. Bryan Gallo, commanding officer of Ross. “Sailors are what make our state-of-the-art ships ready for war, and the Navy’s new policies to prioritize Sailors welfare are a reflection of that.”
Carney and Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, conduct naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of 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, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.