U.S. Pacific Fleet Receives Meritorious Unit Commendation

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Shane Tuck, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Robert F. Willard presented a Meritorious Unit Commendation to his staff during a morning colors ceremony held July 27 at the Makalapa Compound here. On behalf of the Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen, the commendation awarded was presented to all personnel permanently assigned to the Pacific Fleet headquarters staff and detachments from July 8, 2005 to May 7, 2007.

"This award is a testimony of the outstanding work by my predecessor Adm. Gary Roughead and everyone here on the Pacific Fleet staff," Willard said. "I have been in the job now for two-and-a-half months, and I have an even deeper appreciation for the exceptionally good team we have here at Pacific Fleet headquarters. The work you do is having a profound, positive influence far and wide throughout our area of responsibility."

Following the ceremony, U.S. Pacific Fleet Command Master Chief James Teutsch acknowledged some of accomplishments leading to the staff's award. "From the optimal state of readiness achieved by the recent surge deployments of our expeditionary and carrier strike groups to the 2006 USNS Mercy mission our staff planned prepared and executed, this staff's accomplishments have been unprecedented," Teutsch said. "As with all Sailors, they need to know the great job they're doing is paramount. A meritorious unit commendation lets our Sailors know their pride, professionalism and hard work has not gone unnoticed."