New Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, Visits Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet
31 August 2018
NAPLES, Italy -- Vice Adm. Lisa Franchetti, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet and commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO met with Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, at the 6th Fleet headquarters in Naples, Italy, Aug. 30.
In a ceremony aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) presided over by the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, Lewis was named the 2nd Fleet commander Aug. 24, headquartered in Norfolk.
"It was a pleasure to welcome Vice Adm. Lewis to Naples and discuss the ways our fleets will work together in this era of great power competition," said Franchetti. "Our fleets will operate in a dynamic security environment, and the establishment of U.S. 2nd Fleet will help the U.S. Navy and our nation to meet these challenges head on.”
U.S. 2nd Fleet will exercise operational and administrative authorities over assigned ships, aircraft and landing forces on the East Coast. Additionally, it will plan and conduct maritime, joint and combined operations. It will train and recommend certification of combat ready naval forces for maritime employment and operations around the globe.
"Our relationship with 6th Fleet and Naval Force Europe is extremely important as we mobilize the Navy and our Fleets to meet the challenges of the global security environment,” said Lewis. “We look forward to working closely with Vice Adm. Franchetti and her team to provide seamless command and control across the Atlantic."
The security environment continues to grow more challenging and complex – particularly in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Standing up 2nd Fleet demonstrates the Navy’s dedication to security and stability in the region.
“This meeting is the first of many important discussions that will lay the groundwork for a partnership which will advance the national security interests of the United States, our allies, and our partners,” said Franchetti.
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, security and stability in Europe and Africa.
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