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OEIRAS, PORTUGAL – STRIKFORNATO welcomed our Commander, Vice Adm. Gene Black, to the headquarters, on Dec. 10.

Although STRIKFORNATO works with its Commander on daily basis (normally based in Naples, Italy), the visit allowed Vice Adm. Black to personally engage with STRIKFORNATO’s staff, observe the battle-rhythm tempo and receive updates on the main ongoing projects and activities within the headquarters.

Due to COVID-19 mitigation measures, this was Vice Adm. Black’s first routine visit to the headquarters.

STRIKFORNATO shares a common Commander with the U.S. Sixth Fleet, who also serves as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF). Having a “dual-hatted” Commander is critical to the integration high-end U.S. (and other nations’) naval forces into Alliance operations.

STRIKFORNATO is a rapidly deployable joint battlestaff with a unique role within the Alliance. Under permanent operational command to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), STRIKFORNATO is an experienced 3-star led joint headquarters, whose primary mission is to command and integrate U.S. maritime capabilities into NATO operations.

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