US 6th Fleet Visits USS Bainbridge

Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), July 11, while the ship made a port call to Naples, Italy.

The destroyer departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va. June 14 and will remain in the Naval Forces Europe-Africa theater for the duration of its deployment supporting maritime security and theater security cooperation objectives.

During his visit, Vice Adm. Pandolfe spoke with Bainbridge leadership and met with Sailors as he toured the ship.

“Bainbridge has a very important mission,” said Vice Adm. Pandolfe. “I commend our Sailors for the preparation that has taken place to serve in this theater and look forward to seeing great things from them.”

According to the ship’s leadership, the crew is ready for the mission ahead over the next several months.

“Team Bainbridge embraces the deployment we have in front of us and looks forward to our current maritime security operation tasking to include strengthening relations with our allied partners,” said Cmdr. David J. Pearson, commanding officer of Bainbridge. “We view every day at sea as an opportunity to sharpen our warfighter skills in order to be fully ready for any crisis or challenging assignment requiring Bainbridge’s response.”

While touring the ship, Vice Adm. Pandolfe stopped in central control station to congratulate Bainbridge’s Sailor of the Year, Electrician’s Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Michael Smith, on his recent selection as a Limited Duty Officer.

“I very much enjoyed getting the opportunity to meet Vice Adm. Pandolfe,” said Smith. “I was honored to be a representative of Bainbridge engineering, and was very proud to be able to talk about my recent selection for the LDO program.”

Bainbridge, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

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Press Release, July 15, 2013; Image: US Navy