• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

U.S. Ambassador, Colombian Officials Visit Freedom

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100323-13
Release Date: 3/23/2010 4:30:00 PM

By Lt. Ed Early, USS Freedom Public Affairs

CARTAGENA, Colombia (NNS) -- The U.S. ambassador to Colombia joined Colombia's defense minister and top naval officer March 20 in touring the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) during her port visit to Cartagena.

Ambassador William Brownfield, Defense Minister Gabriel Silva and Adm. Guillermo Barrera, Commander, Naval Forces Colombia, were among the many distinguished visitors who took advantage of an opportunity to see the Navy's first littoral combat ship.

"Freedom's visit further demonstrates our commitment to mutual cooperation and understanding between our two countries," Brownfield said.

Freedom arrived March 19 to begin a theater security cooperation (TSC) port visit, the first of her maiden deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of focus.

While aboard Freedom, Brownfield, Silva and Barrera viewed many aspects of Freedom's operations, from a demonstration of the small-boat launching system to the ship's embarked MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter. They also met with members of Freedom's core crew and embarked units, including Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, Detachment 2, the first LCS Surface Warfare Mission Package and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment.

The tour marked Barrera's second visit to Freedom. He previously toured the ship on July 16, 2009 – the day after Cmdr. Randy Garner, Freedom's current commanding officer, took command.

"Admiral Barrera remains very interested in some of the unique ways in which we operate, including our ability to launch small boats through our stern door, our electronic navigation system, and our speed," Garner said.

At a press conference following the tour, Silva called Freedom the most modern ship to visit Colombia and said he was "amazed" at the ship's technology and capabilities.

"We are pleased and very honored to be the first port visit in Latin America for the USS Freedom," Silva told reporters.

Freedom, the first ship of the revolutionary LCS program, is a fast, agile, mission-focused ship that demonstrates the latest in naval technology. The ship is currently on its initial deployment to the Caribbean Sea and the coasts of Central and South America under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet.