Admiral Stavridis Visits Mayport Commands

Stavridis made his first stop at HSL-46, where he administered the Oath of Enlistment to Aviation Electrician's Mate Craig West and presented a Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal to Lt. Cmdr. Dan Leonard. Stavridis also to the opportunity to talk with crewmembers from two of the squadron's detachments. Detachments from HSL-46 have participated in several high-priority missions recently, including assisting with the rescue of Richard Phillips, the captain of the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama in April and the current humanitarian mission in Haiti.

After HSL-46, Stavridis visited USS Vicksburg (CG 69). Vicksburg will be participating in the NATO exercise Joint Warrior later this year, operating in Europe under the purview of Stavridis.

MAYPORT, Fla. (Jan. 14, 2010) Adm. James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Commander, United States European Command, looks down the barrell of a .50-caliber sniper gun that can be used during joint missions with the Navy during a short demonstration with Coast Guard Petty Officers John Gonzales and Steve Doty of USCG Taclet South. The demonstration was part of a tour for of NS Mayport, Fla.-based Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Forty-Six (HSL-46). Detachments from HSL-46 have participated in several high-priority missions recently, including assisting with the rescue of Richard Phillips, the captain of the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama in April and the current humanitarian mission in Haiti. Photo By Paige G. Gnann

The first stop on the tour was a meeting with several officers in the Wardroom, followed by a tour of the Combat Information Center and Central Control Station. Stavridis spoke with Sailors from divisions represented in their departmental spaces, sharing thoughts on the accomplishments of the crew during the 2009 Arabian Sea Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group deployment. Stavridis' final visit was to the bridge, where he presented four members of the crew with Navy Achievement Medals.