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Naval Intelligence Director Visits 4th Fleet, Mayport

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081016-36
Release Date: 10/16/2008 10:05:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alan Gragg, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- The director of naval intelligence visited Naval Station Mayport Oct. 9 to speak with Sailors and other intelligence personnel.

Vice Adm. David J. "Jack" Dorsett arrived at U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/ U.S. 4th Fleet headquarters to meet with NAVSO/4th Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan and speak to a group of Mayport's intelligence personnel about upcoming changes to the Navy's intelligence community.

Dorsett told personnel from various ships and commands based at Mayport of his plans to increase educational opportunities for enlisted Sailors and officers in intelligence-related job fields.

"We are getting ready to go through some fundamental changes in the Navy that will alter (our intelligence) relationships," said Dorsett. "One of my priorities at naval intelligence is to increase the educational opportunities for our Sailors… I want depth of understanding in our profession."

After visiting NAVSO/4th Fleet, Dorsett toured USS Farragut (DDG 99), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, which returned to Mayport after her maiden deployment Oct. 5. Dorsett ate lunch with Farragut's wardroom members, briefly discussed the Navy's intelligence changes and congratulated them on a successful deployment.

Farragut returned from deployment conducting theater security cooperation missions and counter-illicit trafficking operations in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of focus which encompasses the Caribbean, Central and South America, and surrounding waters. During the deployment, Farragut was under the operational control of NAVSO. Once the ship returned to Mayport, U.S. 2nd Fleet took over operational control.

NAVSO, the naval component command of SOUTHCOM, directs U.S. naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interacts with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.

For more information on NAVSO/4th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns.