NEWPORT R.I. – Faculty of U.S. Naval War College’s (NWC) Russia Maritime Studies Institute (RMSI) have been busily underway in support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and the U.S. 6th Fleet.
At the end of 2017, Mike Petersen, director of RMSI, and Cmdr. Ryan Vesta, a RMSI affiliate faculty member of the College of Maritime Operational Warfare (CMOW), embarked in the Mediterranean aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) for its first week at sea after more than a year undergoing repair and modernization.
“We advised the embarked fleet staff and leadership, including the entire flag leadership, on deterrence, planning and warfighting issues during the Fleet 360 war game conducted at sea,” said Petersen of the trip.
Less than a month later, RMSI and CMOW returned to the Mediterranean and to Mount Whitney.
“We worked through nine to 15-foot seas and gale force winds, which an LCC-class ship doesn't take kindly to," said RMSI faculty member Suzanne Freeman, who, with Vest, spent a week embarked with the fleet staff and leadership, advising them on deterrence, planning and warfighting problems during the next move of the Fleet 360 game.
When the seas settled, Rear Adm. Thomas Ishee, U.S. Naval Forces Europe’s director of operations and 6th Fleet’s deputy commander, honored Freeman and others for their contributions and their constitutions in a formal coin ceremony on the fantail of the ship. Alas, the coin was not green to honor of the skin tone of everyone embarked.