May 24 2022

Chief of the Portuguese Naval Staff Visits STRIKFORNATO

Oeiras, Portugal - Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Chief of Portuguese Naval Staff, visited Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) headquarters during the execution of NEPTUNE SHIELD 22 (NESH 22), the 24^th of May.

Adm. Gouveia e Melo had the opportunity to observe NESH’s battle-rhythm tempo from our Joint Operations Centre, and perceive the situational awareness of events that STRIKFORNATO’s Command discusses and enacts.

These visits enhance the interoperability and strength the working relationship between visiting nations and organisations during this vigilance activity, as well as within the STRIKFORNATO staff.

NESH22 integrates high-end maritime expeditionary strike capabilities of Sea, Air and Land assets. The activities take place in the Baltic, Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas, from 17-31 May.

Adm. Gouveia e Melo was promoted to Admiral and assumed the Chief of the Portuguese Naval Staff position in December of 2021 after tasking an effective COVID-19 response force that helped vaccinate Portuguese citizens and residents.

STRIKFORNATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal, is SACEUR’s rapidly deployable and scalable headquarters capable of planning and executing full spectrum joint maritime operations, primarily through the integration of U.S. naval and amphibious forces, in order to provide assurance, deterrence, and collective defence for the Alliance.