The U.S. 6th Fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), returned to Glenmallan, Scotland, after completing a three-day underway in the North Atlantic Ocean, Oct. 21, 2015.

The 640 ft. flagship pulled into port Faslane, after successfully hosting embarked U.S. 6th Fleet and Maritime Theater Missile Defense (MTMD) Forum personnel. After successfully disembarking U.S. 6th Fleet and (MTMD) Forum personnel, Mount Whitney got underway and continued on with her mission of operating forward in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

Quotes:

"As the Leading Chief Petty Officer for the Radio Division onboard the Navy's most advanced command, control, communications, computers and intelligence platform, I couldn't be more proud of what our Sailors were able to accomplish during the At Sea Demonstration 2015. We provided more than 5.7 million square miles of uninterrupted shared network coverage allowing the Maritime Theater Missile Defense Forum to proudly demonstrate this capability for the first time in the European Theatre. I think I can say without reservation that the Sailors aboard the Mount Whitney consider it an honor to have been selected as the viewing platform for this multinational demonstration and are proud to represent the United States throughout the 6th Fleet area of responsibility."

- Chief Information Systems Technician Jimmy Halleran, Radio Leading Chief Petty Officer

"The exercise marked a significant demonstration of our commitment to ballistic missile defense, and the increased commitment of our allied partners to increase their presence in the Atlantic. It was great being a part of this historic event, and getting to meet and discuss policy and strategy with dignitaries and military leaders from around the globe."

- EnsignKelvin Huntley, Intelligence Systems Officer

"I am excited to carry on with our mission after a successful couple of days in the area. Not only did the Sailors exceed my expectations for what I thought to be a great exercise, I am sure that they exceeded the expectations of many of our embarked staff, and distinguished guests. Scotland was a great host to the Mount Whitney, and I look forward to returning to this beautiful country in the future."

- LCDR Matthew O'Neal, Combat Systems Maintenance Officer

Quick Facts:

Deputy Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, Rear Adm. Daryl Caudle, hosted delegates from seven MTMD Forum nations, as well as Denmark and Japan.

MTMD is a U.K.-hosted, U.S.-facilitated, multinational demonstration of coalition-integrated air and missile defense capability.

The 10 MTMD Forum member nations are: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States.

Mount Whitney, forward-deployed to Gaeta, Italy is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

Mount Whitney operates with a combined crew of U.S. Navy Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners.

The civil service mariners perform navigation, deck, engineering and supply service operations, while military personnel support communications, weapons systems and security. It is one of only two seaborne Joint Command Platforms in the U.S. Navy, both of which are forward deployed.

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