Adm. Michelle Howard, vice chief of naval operations, hosted a reception for senior naval leaders on board littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) May 20.

Howard is the senior U.S. Navy leader participating in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) 2015.

"It was great to welcome Rear. Adm. Lai (Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy) on board USS Fort Worth as part of IMDEX and during the ship's first rotational deployment to Singapore," said Howard.

The biennial IMDEX Asia was first organized in 1997 and provides an international venue to showcase the latest developments in maritime defense technology and to foster dialogue on contemporary maritime security challenges and opportunities.

"There were many familiar faces among the flag officers, captains and senior enlisted from regional navies who visited Fort Worth tonight, and it was a pleasure to visit many of their ships on the waterfront for IMDEX as well," said Rear Adm. Charlie Williams, commander, Task Force 73.

In addition to Fort Worth, embarked with one MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and one MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial system, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89), which is embarked with two MH-60R helicopters, and the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN 752) are also participating in static displays at Singapore's Changi Naval Base.

Senior leaders and representatives from maritime services in 40 countries are attending IMDEX 2015, along with several thousand trade show visitors. Joining the U.S. Navy ships at Changi Naval Base are 20 foreign warships from 12 navies.

"Rotational deployments of littoral combat ships speak to our longstanding partnership with the Republic of Singapore Navy and our shared commitment to regional cooperation and maritime security," said Howard.

Fort Worth is on a 16-month rotational deployment and is the second LCS to deploy to U.S. 7th Fleet as part of an initiative to simultaneously deploy up to four LCS in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region by later this decade. Mustin, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, is on patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. Pasadena, homeported in San Diego, is currently on deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific area of operations. As the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet, U.S. 7th Fleet interacts with 35 other maritime nations to build partnerships that foster maritime security, promote stability and prevent conflict.

For more news from Destroyer Squadron 7, visit www.navy.mil/.