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Pacific Fleet Commander Visits Kitty Hawk

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070604-05
Release Date: 6/4/2007 11:06:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Olivia Giger, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

ABOARD USS KITTY HAWK (NNS) -- Adm. Gary Roughead, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited Sailors aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) on April 19. More than 3,000 Sailors from several 7th Fleet commands gathered in the carrier's hangar bay to hear him speak.

Roughead said his main purpose in visiting Kitty Hawk was to thank the Sailors for their hard work.

"You are the ones that arrive first and in every case you have done an extraordinary job," he said.

He also spoke about the importance of Kitty Hawk's presence in Japan.

"There is no question in my mind that the Pacific Fleet is important today and it's only going to get more important in the future," Roughead said. "You are the face of America in the Pacific and you have represented us very well."

Following Roughead's speech Sailors were given the opportunity to ask him questions about 7th Fleet policies and upcoming events.

Roughead talked about the strategic importance of each Sailor's conduct in Japan. He said there has been a dramatic decrease in incidents due to the approach commands are taking to reestablish a positive reputation in Japan.

"We are the best Navy in the world and we should protect that reputation," Roughead said.

The admiral also commended the Pacific Fleet commands for their efforts during the tsunami disaster in Indonesia and said that those efforts have contributed to an increasingly positive opinion toward the United States.

Fire Controlman 1st Class Candi Alberry said she didn't know about the relief efforts before hearing it from Roughead, because she was stationed in Iraq at the time.

"That made me proud," she said.

Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Airman Christopher Welborn said that he was glad Roughead had all good things to say.

"It boosted my morale," he said.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet is the world's largest fleet command. It encompasses 102 million square miles and more than 190 ships and submarines, 1,400 aircraft, 191,000 Sailors and Marines and 30,000 civilians.