Cmdr. Bryan Gallo, commanding officer of Ross, led the delegation from the forecastle to the combat information center, showcasing Ross' various weapons systems.

"It was an honor to have our Spanish allies onboard for a tour of the Ross," said Gallo. "The mission readiness of the crew is second to none, and I am very proud of everything the ship has accomplished."

The U.S.-Spain Bilateral Permanent Committee oversees the U.S. presence in Spain, and works to address issues ranging from maintenance requirements to bilateral exercise schedules.

"Maintaining these NATO relationships are critical to our mission here in Europe, and I look forward to hosting future delegations onboard Ross," said Gallo.

The ship's presence in Spain is a demonstration of the U.S. Navy's continued commitment to strengthening our strategic partnerships in the European region.

Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, has completed five patrols in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners, and U.S. national security interests in Europe.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more Navy news, visit
www.navy.mil,
www.facebook.com/usnavy, or
www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.