USS Chafee Deploys to 7th Fleet in Support of Maritime Security

From USS Chafee Public Affairs

WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), May 22, after departing from her homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, May 18.

Commanded by Cmdr. Shea Thompson, the ship and crew of more than 300 Sailors, is scheduled to conduct theater security cooperation engagements and maritime security operations while maintaining stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

"Chafee's fundamental mission is to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations at sea," said Thompson. "A disciplined and fearless crew, Chafee provides an agile, flexible, responsive and robust set of capabilities to the 7th Fleet AOR. We have spent a year preparing for this deployment and are ready for whatever tasking comes our way."

Chaffee's will initially participate in the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI), a joint Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Commerce program, which supports maritime law enforcement operations to administer U.S. and Pacific Island Nations fisheries laws and the suppression of illicit activities.

Chafee is a multi-mission ship with strike warfare, anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare capabilities designed to operate independently or with an associated strike group.