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Mount Whitney Hosts Commander, Military Sealift Command

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100430-05
4/30/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Sylvia Nealy, USS Mount Whitney, Public Affairs

GAETA, Italy (NNS) -- Commander, Military Sealift Command (MSC), visited the amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) April 15.

Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby visited the ship during a world tour to familiarize himself with Navy ships that have been outfitted with Navy and MSC crew members.

"This has always been a secret dream of mine that someday I can travel with this great organization, and the diversity of this ship cannot be matched with any other Navy in the world," said Buzby.

During the visit, Mount Whitney's Chief Engineer, Richard Leighton, Commanding Officer Capt. Karl Thomas and Executive Officer Cmdr. Doug Harvey gave a guided tour of the engineering spaces and explained the functions of the ship.

"I was pleased with the overall condition of the ship and especially the engineering spaces," Buzby said.

The entourage toured the emergency generator room, the caterpillar room, the engineering operating station, the fire boiler room and the shore service barge.

"I wanted Buzby to see what changes were made and what needed to be made in order to extend the ship's life span to 2029," said Leighton.

Buzby is no stranger to the Gaeta area, Italy or to Mount Whitney.

"I was previously embarked with staff on board USS La Salle (AGF 3) amphibious transport dock in 1999 as an assistant operations officer, prior to Mount Whitney relieving this ship and arriving to Gaeta, Italy," said Buzby.

Mount Whitney is the 6th Fleet flagship. She is homeported in Gaeta, Italy and operates with a hybrid crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civilian mariners.