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Sep 25 2024

STRIKFORNATO Changes Command

NAPLES, Italy, September 20th - Vice Adm. Thomas E. Ishee was relieved by Vice Adm. Jeffrey Anderson as Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet and Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) in a change of command ceremony held aboard the command and control ship USS Mount Whitney , used as STRIKFORNATO’s Afloat Command Platform.

Adm. Stuart Munsch, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) and Commander, Allied Joint Forces Command Naples, presided over the ceremony.

You led thousands of Sailors from 15 different countries, hundreds of ships, submarines and aircraft effectively, and advanced our warfighting advantage at every opportunity,

“You led thousands of Sailors from 15 different countries, hundreds of ships, submarines and aircraft effectively, and advanced our warfighting advantage at every opportunity,” Munsch said while giving praise to Ishee and his “incredible teams" at U.S. 6th Fleet and STRIKFORNATO.

Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee (center) poses for a photo with the staff of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) at the headquarters in Oeiras, Portugal, July 23, 2024

Ishee took command of STRIKFORNATO in September 2022, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His decisive leadership was instrumental in bringing Allies together in what was STRIKFORNATO’s busiest period. This included seven Neptune Strike (NEST) enhanced vigilance activities, as well as Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercises in 2023 and 2024 when Finland and Sweden participated as NATO member-states, respectively.

Also, during the two years Ishee was in command, STRIKFORNATO was given authority over fifth-generation capabilities, such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and more than ten aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Prince of Wales, French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, ITS Cavour, ESPS Juan Carlos I and TCG Anadolu, an unprecedented feat demonstrating both STRIKFORNATO’s capacity and effectiveness.

Additionally, Ishee’s tenure saw the number of countries committed to supporting STRIKFORNATO increase from 13 to 15 in January this year when Romania and Lithuania signed the memorandum of understanding to provide military personnel to support the STRIKFORNATO mission.

“I can say with complete confidence that the (U.S. 6th) Fleet and STRIKFORNATO stand as lethal and professional as ever,” Ishee said.

Anderson graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1991. As a fighter pilot, he deployed multiple times in support of operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Deliberate Forge – NATO’s air campaign during the Bosnian War. Ashore, he served as an instructor at TOPGUN, the Navy’s elite tactical aviation instructor course, and as Director of Operations for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

“We will continue to rely on our alliances and partnerships to remain the most combat credible and capable maritime force in theatre, and will meet every challenge with strength, resolve, and confidence,” Anderson said.

STRIKFORNATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal, integrates high-end, multi-domain, maritime strike, ballistic and integrated air and missile defense capabilities across the NATO theatre of operations to deter adversaries and defend the Alliance.

Story by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO

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