Undersecretary of the Navy Thomas Modly stopped in Crete, Greece, July 19-20, and spent time with the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay team as part of his visit to the Mediterranean region.

Capt. Ryan T. Tewell, commanding officer NSA Souda Bay, briefed Modly on the installation’s strategic mission and ongoing projects.

Modly toured NSA Souda Bay’s facilities, which are hosted on board the Hellenic Air Force 115th Combat Air Wing military base. He also traveled to the Marathi NATO Pier Complex where he saw firsthand the piers, Joint Test Operations Center, port operations, harbor security and the NATO Ammo Depot.

During his visit, Modly met with Sailors and discussed some of the advantages and challenges of being stationed in Greece.

“I really appreciate that he would come out to Souda Bay to see our command. I can tell that he cares about our Sailors and what we are doing here,” said Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Casandra Hernandez, who works in Port Operations.

Modly said NSA Souda Bay’s strategic location provides the Navy a clear logistical advantage with regard to supplying ships and Sailors in the Mediterranean Sea with what they need to maintain long steaming hours – from weapons and food to letters from home.

However, he noted working with our partners and allies around the world is also part of the mission here. “It’s not just the operational side, but it’s the relationships that are built over time that are really critical for us,” Modly said.

NSA Souda Bay is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. For more information, visit us at www.cnic.navy.mil/SoudaBay or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NSASoudaBay/ or Twitter at www.twitter.com/NSA_SoudaBay.

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For more news from U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay Crete, Greece, visit www.navy.mil/.