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U.S. 3rd Fleet Hosts Staff Talks for Maritime Defense

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090311-05
Release Date: 3/11/2009 5:52:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Krishna Jackson

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The commander of U.S. 3rd Fleet met with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Canadian maritime commanders Feb. 25-27 during three-party staff talks at his fleet headquarters located in Point Loma, Calif.

U.S. 3rd Fleet Commander, Vice Adm. Samuel J. Locklear joined USCG commanders, Vice Adm. David P. Pekoske, commander, USCG Pacific Area and Vice Adm. Robert J. Papp, commander, USCG Atlantic Area and Commander, Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Rear Adm. Tyrone Pile of Canada to discuss current and future maritime operations between their forces.

One of the overarching goals of cooperative talks like this is maritime homeland defense of the North American continent through cooperation between the United States and its neighbors, according to Cmdr. Jay R. Mills, 3rd Fleet future operations officer.

"We are conducting a series of exercises with the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard so we can analyze any gaps that might exist in our maritime security plan and have all procedures in place for surveillance and interdiction operations in the waters in and around Canada and the U.S. during the 2010 Olympic Games," said Capt. Les Faloon, MARPAC operations head.

The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, was a main topic of discussion for maritime domain awareness because of the collaborative plan being formulated between Canadian and U.S. maritime forces to ensure the waters surrounding the Pacific Northwest are protected from potential threats during the games.

"Canada and the U.S. are working together to provide surveillance and interdiction at choke points in the waters between both our nations," Mills explained.

Joint endeavors like this are prime examples of building upon partnerships as outlined in the U.S. Maritime Strategy by expanding cooperative relationships with other nations that will contribute to the security and stability of the maritime domain for the benefit of all.

"These staff talks allow us to refine our agreements and our standard operating procedures that enable us to do mutual assistance to each other while at the same time respecting national sovereignty," said Faloon.

During the talks three working groups discussed maritime homeland defense and security, exercises and scheduling and C4I (command, control, communications, computers and intelligence).

Other areas discussed included upcoming disaster relief exercises with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, fleet training exercises and missile defense.

For more news from Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c3f/.