U.S. Third Fleet Hosts U.S. Second Fleet for Staff Talks
29 October 2018
SAN DIEGO -- U.S. Third Fleet Hosts U.S. Second Fleet for Staff Talks
Vice Adm. John Alexander, commander, U.S. Third Fleet (C3F), hosted Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis, commander, U.S. Second Fleet (C2F), at C3F Headquarters October 22-23.
The two commanders and senior members of their respective staffs discussed headquarters and staff organization, maritime operations center functionality, and best business practices as C2F continues to develop as a fully operational fleet headquarters.
“The visit of our Second Fleet counterparts marks a vital step forward in their re-establishment and growth as an operational numbered fleet,” said Alexander. “We hope our lessons learned and operational experiences will prove valuable to Second Fleet in their efforts to prepare, provide, and employ forces operating in the Atlantic.”
Lewis, named C2F commander August 24 during a ceremony on board nuclear aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), said the discussions would serve to ensure the two fleets are aligned and training to the same high-end standard.
“Our partnership with Third Fleet is the transnational bridge between the Atlantic and Pacific operational fleets,” said Lewis. “Bringing our staffs together allows us to take steps towards ensuring our respective Fleets are training to a single high-end standard that will make us a more lethal force to compete, deter, and win in the maritime domain.”
C2F was previously disestablished in September 2011 and many of its personnel, assets and responsibilities were merged into United States Fleet Forces.
Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, will exercise operational and administrative authorities over assigned ships, aircraft and landing forces on the East Coast and the North Atlantic.
Additionally, it will plan and conduct maritime, joint and combined operations and will train and recommend certification of combat ready naval forces for maritime employment and operations around the globe.
Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richardson, announced the re-establishment of C2F May 4.
"Our National Defense Strategy makes clear that we're back in an era of great power competition as the security environment continues to grow more challenging and complex," said Richardson. "That's why today, we're standing up Second Fleet to address these changes, particularly in the north Atlantic."