Photo By Matthew Lyall | PACIFIC OCEAN (July 13, 2022) Australian Consul-General Honolulu, Andrea Gleason...... read more read more
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PACIFIC OCEAN – Royal Australian Navy landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra (L02) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on July 12 and welcomed the Australian Consulate-General Honolulu, Andrea Gleason and Deputy Secretary Strategy, Policy and Industry Group Peter Tesch onboard as they sailed out for the sea phase as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022.
Gleason and Tesch had a first class view as the Royal Australian Navy, Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) HMAS Canberra left the harbor concluding the shore phase of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022.
Taking in the views from the ship’s bridge, Gleason said it was a great experience and her first time at sea on an Australian Navy ship and military exercise.
“It is very hard to identify one particular highlight from my time onboard because it has all been such a great educational experience,” Gleason said. “I really enjoyed meeting everyone and understanding the various roles onboard. What was fascinating was exploring the engine room and appreciating the incredible complexities of a ship like Canberra.”
Gleason was appointed Australian Consulate-General Honolulu in June 2021 and is a senior career officer with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The recent humanitarian assistance disaster relief (HADR) operation in Tonga in which HMAS Canberra was deployed, enabled her to see first-hand the ship and crew that helped in that operation.
“It was so interesting to hear from those who were involved in supporting the people of Tonga, and allowed me to see it all from a different perspective," said Gleason. “Talking to crew about the challenges and obstacles faced and understanding the lessons learned are so important, especially when we can share them with our partner nations for future HADR missions."
The consulate-general was onboard during significant flying operations where HMAS Canberra, for the first time, embarked two United States MV-22 Osprey military aircraft witnessing from the flight control office (FLYCO) the ability for Canberra’s crew to work with our United States partners to successfully complete the mission.
The Ospreys and their crew will now remain onboard HMAS Canberra for the RIMPAC sea phase which is an important first for the LHD, providing an opportunity for Australia and the United States of America to ensuring interchangeability between the two nations as we work together now and in the future.
Gleason and Tesch spent the evening onboard Canberra and enjoyed conversations with members of the ship’s company and commented on how much energy and enthusiasm there was from the team.
“It has been great to experience some of the offshore elements to the exercise having been involved ashore in my first RIMPAC,” Gleason said.
HMAS Canberra is now continuing with the sea phase of the exercise working with the 26 nations taking part in the world’s largest maritime exercise.
Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29- Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
| Date Taken: | 07.13.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2022 13:16 |
| Story ID: | 425141 |
| Location: | PACIFIC OCEAN |
| Web Views: | 64 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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