USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 departed Naval Station Norfolk April 4 as part of U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) “Partnership of the Americas” deployment. The two-month underway period marks GW’s first deployment since leaving the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard in December. “Partnership of the Americas is designed to foster goodwill among partner nations through communications, operations and training,” said Vice Adm. Mark Fitzgerald, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. More than 6,500 Sailors from the GW Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG) ships will deploy to the Caribbean Sea to enhance regional maritime security and strengthen ties through operations and exercises with Caribbean and Latin American partner nations.