In Portugal, to discuss the Steadfast Defender 2021 exercise, Lewis met with leadership and staff to understand the roles, capabilities, and mission of STRIKFORNATO, and to highlight the way in which the headquarters is commanding and controlling At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield 2021 Exercise from its Joint Operations Centre (JOC).
The At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield 2021 is a defensive live-fire, Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) exercise that provides the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to conduct land and sea based defense against simultaneous cruise and ballistic missile threats with coordinated command and control. Allied nations will practice, demonstrate, and assess their ability to share common tactical pictures, share situational awareness, conduct NATO-level mission planning and engagement coordination, and exercise force-level pre-planned responses with capabilities and limitations.
NATO JFCNF, headquartered in Norfolk, Va. is part of the Allied Command Operations structure. It provides a U.S. led, joint multi-national operational command, supported by component, Allied and partner commands, responsible for the North Atlantic, the High North, and adjacent littorals. It is the first NATO headquarters dedicated to the Atlantic since 2003.
U.S. Second Fleet exercises operational authorities over assigned ships, aircraft, and landing forces on the East Coast and the Atlantic. When directed, the U.S. Second Fleet conducts exercises and operations within the U.S. European Command Area of Responsibility as an expeditionary fleet, providing U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet an additional maneuver arm to operate forces dynamically in theater.
STRIKFORNATO hosts U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet and Joint Force Command - Norfolk, onboard STRIKFORNATO headquarters Oeiras, Portugal May 23, 2021 during Exercise At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield 2021 (ASD/FS). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anna-Liesa Hussey)