Under Secretary of the Navy visits Bahrain

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jacob Milham | 190318-N-OW182-1074 ARABIAN GULF (March 18, 2019) Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly is piped aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57). Mitscher is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Milham/Released)  

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

03.17.2019

Story by NAVCENT Public Affairs    

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

MANAMA, Bahrain – Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly arrived in Bahrain for a three-day engagement with U.S. and local officials and military leadership to discuss pertinent issues related to the region March 17-19.

During his visit he met with U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain Justin Siberell, Commander in Chief, Bahrain Defense Forces, Field Marshall Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Minister of Defense Affairs, Major General Abdulla Al Noaimi, Chief of Royal Bahrain Naval Forces, Commodore Mohammed Yousef Al Asam, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces Vice Admiral Jim Malloy, task force commanders, and toured Coast Guard and Navy vessels onboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

"I can't overemphasize the geographic and strategic importance of Bahrain. The men and women who serve here are performing and supporting one of the most critical missions our military has," said Modly, during an All Hands Call aboard USS Gladiator (MCM 11). “The teamwork displayed by our allies and partners here is critical to ensuring we continue to be at the forefront of global seapower.”

Additionally, Modly visited the USS Mitscher (DDG 57) underway where he toured the ship and joined the crew for lunch.

The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy, and he directly supports the Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer in the formulation and implementation of policies and programs that are consistent with the national security policies and objectives established by the President and the Secretary of Defense.

U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse is comprised of 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.

• Date Taken: 03.17.2019
• Date Posted: 03.21.2019 04:31
• Story ID: 315102
• Location: MANAMA, BH