Vice Adm. Dixon Smith, commander, Naval Installations Command (CNIC), visited Naval Station Rota Nov. 1-3 as part of his assessment of the Navy's European bases.

Accompanying Smith was Rear Adm. Rick Williamson, commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA), as the two kicked off the visit during a roundtable discussion with Rota's senior leaders to discuss Smith's 2017 goals and objectives.

"My command exists for one reason only, and that is to enable and support you so you can do your mission at the installation," said Smith. "Our Navy could not operate across the seas or operate forward without our installations. Ships need to tie off somewhere, airplanes need to take off from somewhere, and subs need to resupply somewhere. All that happens from the shore. Every one of us, all 52,000 within the Navy command enterprise across our 71 bases, needs to take pride in the fact that the Navy cannot do its job without the shore Sailors."

Smith's goals and objectives echo CNIC's overall mission and vision, which is to deliver effective and efficient readiness from the shore and provide off shore capability to sustain the fleet, enable the fighter, and support the family.

"I am here to visit the European installations, and this is my second time to Rota as the commander for Navy Installations Command," said Smith. "We can't provide the resources you need without having an understanding of what is going on at the ground level."

On the second day of the visit, Smith and Williamson joined Naval Station Rota's Sailors of the Year for breakfast at the base galley, followed by a tour of the installation which included stops at the forward-deployed naval force (FDNF) pier, child development center, family housing, the air traffic control tower, and an office call with Spanish Fleet Adm. Santiago Gonzalez Gmez.

Overall, Smith was impressed with Naval Station Rota's capabilities, as well as the continuing partnerships fostered between American Sailors and their Spanish counterparts.

"I think Rota is doing an awesome job; The morale here is excellent, [and] the "can do" positive attitude is world-class," said Smith. "When you look at the CNIC guiding principles, the first one is customer service. Rota takes it to the next level; that's what they've always done and always will do. From the port operations and airfield to the gym, galley, and family support facilities ... everyone in Rota is here to take care of their customers who live here and call this place home, and Rota is doing a great job."

Smith also had a word of advice on the importance of the customer for all of his shore Sailors.

"I would ask everyone within the Navy Installations Command this -- when we're doing our job and when we're supporting the fleet, fighter, and family, have a questioning attitude and ask, 'How can we do this better?'" said Smith. "We need to put ourselves in our customer's shoes. We need to look at what we do from a customer's perspective to ensure we are doing the best we can for them."

Smith, a native of Green's Farms, Connecticut, assumed command of CNIC in October 2014 and is responsible for 52,000 military and civilian personnel, 11 regions, and 71 installations worldwide.

Naval Station Rota enables and supports operations of U.S. and allied forces and provides quality services in support of the fleet, fighter, and family for Commander, Navy Installations Command in Navy Region EURAFSWA.

Just as a ship performs lines of operation that provide a capability, Navy Region EURAFSWA bases perform the same eight lines of operation to provide capability to the fleet and joint and allied forces. These eight lines of operation are air operations, port operations, safety, security, MWR, Fleet and Family Services, and what is called the core -- the fuels, water and power that keep the bases running. Through our lines of operation, our installations are force multipliers that maximize the combat capability of operational units.

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For more news from Naval Station Rota, Spain, visit http://www.navy.mil/ or http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafswa/installations/ns_rota.html/.