Navy Surgeon General Vice Adm. Forrest Faison visited Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit (NEPMU) 7 as part of a visit to Naval Station Rota, April 18.

The surgeon general emphasized the important work being done by NEPMU-7 to provide necessary support to naval forces in the African and European theaters.

"I'm incredibly impressed with the work this unit is doing," said Faison. "NEPMU-7 provides exceptional preventive medicine services that keep our operational and expeditionary forces ready and able to conduct their missions throughout the region."

Throughout his visit, the staff members of NEPMU-7 highlighted some of the work they have done since the recommissioning of the unit in June 2014.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Nicole Gacayan, of San Jose, Calif., spoke about her missions with Naval Expeditionary Task Force Europe and Africa alongside the Army's 7th Mission Support Command in the Combined Joint Exercise in Seville, Spain earlier this month.

During the exercise, Gacayan provided onsite assessments for berthing and food facilities and cross training between Spanish Emergency Military Unit first responders and the Spanish Army in areas of public health.

"It was amazing to meet with our Spanish counterparts and have joint discussions," said Gacayan. "Participating in this exercise and in these discussions will help improve the overall response in case of a real natural disaster."

During the visit, Faison presented a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Benjamin Murphy of Kansas City, Mo.

Murphy received the award for his exceptional performance while assigned as the only preventive medicine authority supporting training exercises in Ukraine and Serbia. He additionally played a critical role in developing consequence management scenarios for the upcoming exercise Operation Anakonda.

"Receiving this award from my leadership is a great honor, and to be presented this award by the surgeon general of the Navy is extraordinary. I could not have done this without the support of my team here at NEPMU-7," said Murphy.

In addition to recognizing the work of the Sailors, Faison also recognized Capt. Juliann Althoff, NEPMU-7's officer in charge, for her selection as the senior officer recipient of the Capt. Joy Bright Hancock leadership award. This award is to honor the visionary leadership of inspirational leaders whose ideals foster positive working environments and further the integration of women into the Navy.

"Our unit is remarkable," said Althoff. "We do amazing things together, over the past two years they have built this command from the ground up to being fully mission capable, I couldn't be more proud than to show the surgeon general all they have accomplished."

NEPMU-7 provides public health support to Navy and Marine Corps forces throughout Europe and Africa.

For more information on NEPMU-7 products and services: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/nepmu-7/Pages/default.aspx.

For more news from Navy Medicine East, visit www.navy.mil/.