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SOUTHCOM Commander Visits NAVSO

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060718-12
Release Date: 7/18/2006 6:42:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Holly Boynton, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) visited U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) headquarters here July 14 for command briefings and a facilities tour, as well as a visit to USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67).

Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock was in Mayport to meet with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr. and discuss regional maritime security issues.

“We were honored by Gen. Craddock’s visit,” said Stevenson, “and took the opportunity to brief the general on the important work our men and women are doing on the ships at sea and at deployed air facilities in the region. Everything we do here is focused on supporting the General’s Theater Security Cooperation objectives, and the people we have in place are doing extremely important work.”

During the NAVSO visit, Craddock joined John F. Kennedy’s Capt. Todd Zecchin for lunch and a tour of the ship’s extensive museum honoring President Kennedy.

After returning to NAVSO headquarters, Craddock was briefed on upcoming NAVSO exercises, including UNITAS Pacific in Chile and PANAMAX in Panama. Stevenson briefed the general on maritime security efforts, including the recently completed Partnership of the Americas and other Theater Security Cooperation efforts. Stevenson emphasized recent progress enhancing relations with partner nations in Latin America.

Remarking on the visit, Craddock said, “To improve maritime domain awareness, the U.S. will need to work more closely with our partner nations. By building these partnerships and supporting their growth toward independent operations, we will achieve regional security objectives.”

Craddock and his party departed Mayport with an updated status of NAVSO operations and capabilities, and encouraged continuing efforts to strengthen regional partnerships.

For more information on U.S. Southern Command, go to www.southcom.mil/home/.

For more information on U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, go to www.cusns.navy.mil.

For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusns/.