During his visit to Yokosuka, Kitchener met with Sailors assigned to Task Force 71, hosted an engagement for regional surface warfare officers (SWO), and held an all-hands call with Sailors assigned to forward-deployed ships to solicit their feedback about current and future initiatives within the Surface Force.

Kitchener visited USS Dewey (DDG 105) to present the crew with the Battle Efficiency (Battle ‘E’) award. The Battle ‘E’ is presented to the command that demonstrates the best performance throughout the calendar year in the Command Excellence Award (CEAs) areas of maritime warfare, engineering and survivability, command and control, safety, and supply management.

Dewey is one of seven destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, the largest forward-deployed destroyer squadron in the U.S. Navy.

“Dewey Sailors demonstrated exceptional combat readiness throughout an incredibly demanding year of high-tempo operations in the Indo-Pacific,” said Kitchener.

Alongside officials in the JMSDF, Kitchener toured the recently commissioned Mogami-class frigate JS Mogami (FFM 1) to understand how the U.S. Navy and JSMDF can continue to improve interoperability and strengthen the maritime alliance.

“For more than 70 years, the U.S.-Japan Alliance has been the cornerstone of stability and security in the Indo-Pacific and will continue to play that role in the future,” said Kitchener. “The U.S. Navy and the JMSDF will continue to integrate our forces and leverage emerging technologies to advance and strengthen our combined capabilities.”

Following his visit in Yokosuka, Kitchener traveled to Sasebo, Japan, to continue his conversations with Surface Sailors stationed at CFAS. He also held office calls with leaders from Commander Task Force (CTF) 76, Commander Naval Surface Group Western Pacific (CNSGWP), Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) Detachment Sasebo, Amphibious Squadron (COMPHIBRON) 11, and Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) Seven.

Before departing Sasebo, Kitchener held an all-hands call onboard USS Ashland (LSD 48) and met with regional chief petty officer (CPO) selects to congratulate them on achieving their career milestone.

The mission of CNSP is to man, train, and equip the Surface Force to provide fleet commanders with credible naval power to control the sea and project power ashore.