Mar 15 2023

STRIKFORNATO celebrates its 70th Anniversary

OEIRAS, Portugal - Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) celebrated its 70th anniversary with an Award Ceremony, recognising its outstanding staff, in the headquarters in Oeiras, Portugal on 15th March, 2023.

STRIKFORNATO and U.S. Sixth Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Thomas E. Ishee, led the ceremony. During his speech, firstly remembering STRIKFORNATO’s beginning in 1953, Vice Admiral Ishee reinforced the importance of STRIKFORNATO activities today, such as the last vigilance activity NEPTUNE STRIKE, for the defence and deterrence of the Alliance. While the future may be uncertain, the Alliance is not. Thus, in an increasingly complex environment, STRIKFORNATO remains focused on its mission, always betting on creativity, resilience, and teamwork.

We may have the instruments, equipment and technology to continue and build a stronger Alliance to deter, but it is the people, that give us a warfighting advantage.

Vice Admiral Ishee also honoured two members of our staff that went above and beyond on their duties in regards to the support delivered to the NATO Alliance. Master Chief Petty Officer Luiz Neta, from the Portuguese Navy, and First Class Petty Officer Vernon Ramos, from the U.S. Navy, were each recognised with the Military Member of the Year 2022 Award, serving as valuable and exceptional individuals in the STRIKFORNATO organization and the overall mission.

First established as STRIKFORSOUTH in 1953 in Naples, Italy, STRIKFORNATO was renamed in 2004 and relocated to Portugal in the summer of 2012.

STRIKFORNATO is a rapidly deployable and scalable headquarters, under the operational command of SACEUR, capable of planning and executing full spectrum joint maritime operations including Ballistic Missile Defence, primarily through integration of U.S. and other nations’ carrier and amphibious forces into NATO operations to provide assurance, deterrence, and collective defence for the Alliance.