KEFLAVIK, Iceland –
Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 had the honor of hosting the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Richard V. Spencer, for a tour of the P-8A Poseidon in October. The SECNAV took the opportunity to visit the ‘Mad Foxes’ on the final leg of his trip to Norway and Iceland before returning to Washington D.C. Keflavik is utilized as a base from which the U.S. P-8As conduct operations.
Although he had previously toured and flown a P-8A simulator during a visit to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, this visit provided an opportunity to see what capabilities the P-8A brings to the mission. The static display started with a brief tour of the flight station led by Navy pilot Lt. j.g. Alex Cleaveland.
“It was a great opportunity to familiarize the SECNAV on how we fly and operate the P-8A tactically on station,” said Cleaveland.
Lt. Ali Hussain, Combat Aircrew (CAC) 10’s tactical coordinator, gave the SECNAV an up-close look at the mission crew workstations and explained how the combat crews operate as a team to execute the wide-ranging mission set of the P-8A. Missions include anti-submarine warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as VP-5’s recent humanitarian assistance and disaster relief flights in the wake of the devastating hurricanes striking the United States and the Caribbean.
The ‘Mad Foxes’ of CAC-10 are on detachment along with three other CACs, conducting operations from Keflavik, Iceland, in support of commander, Task Force 67. VP-5 conducts operations in U.S. 4th Fleet from Comalapa, El Salvador, and U.S. 6th Fleet from Sigonella, Italy.
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.