DESRON 15 Completes 2022 Deployment with USS Ronald Reagan > United States Navy > News-Stories

DESRON 15 consists of a staff with two important and distinct missions. First, DESRON 15 serves as Commander of Task Force (CTF) 71, 7th Fleet’s surface warfare commander. DESRON 15 also supports Ronald Reagan’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 in surface warfare, directs naval offensive operations, and manages the anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations of forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers connected to CSG 5.

“I’ve been deployed to the Western Pacific many times over the last 20 years and the biggest change I’ve noticed on this patrol has been the increased integration of allies and partners,” said Captain Justin Harts, DESRON 15’s Deputy Commodore and Ronald Reagan CSG Sea Combat Commander. “The states of the western Pacific seem more intent than ever to operate as a unified force with the United States. I think they recognize the value these operations have for regional stability and want to do their part. It has been great to see our Sailors integrate so seamlessly with partner fleets towards a common goal.”

In addition to embarkations of foreign personnel, ships from Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and the United Kingdom have joined the Ronald Regan CSG during routine security and stability operations in the western Pacific since commissioned by Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY ) on May 20th.

DESRON 15 leadership has worked to balance the responsibilities of 7th Fleet’s main surface forces with support from the Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group, with personnel regularly split between the shore-based Theater Surface Warfare Commander team and the embarked Sea Combat Commander team changing en route on Ronald Reagan.

Desron 15 embarked personnel provided their expertise in managing and conducting CSG’s participation in numerous exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including several trilateral events with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Republic of Korea Navy, Malabar 2022 and Keen Sword 2023

“I am very proud of the team underway and their performance as a sea combat commander,” said Captain Walter Mainor, commander of CTF 71/DESRON 15. “They promoted and ensured safety and security in the theater of operations, preserved and nurtured free trade at sea streets and were ambassadors of goodwill. On every mission, they have exceeded expectations and performed brilliantly. As always, the love and support of families back home provides the additional strength needed to maintain the highest levels of performance and preparedness.”

CTF 71/ DESRON 15 is the Navy’s largest DESRON and the principal surface combatant force of the US 7th Fleet. The mission of CTF 71/DESRON 15 is to plan, direct, monitor and evaluate all ground warfare operations in the western Pacific and to provide command supervision of the US Navy’s nine forward-based Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers: USS Barry (DDG 52), USS Benfold (DDG 65), USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Dewey (DDG 105), USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114). ) and USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115).