MANAMA, Bahrain - Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, on behalf of Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense, presented Royal Bahrain Navy Brig. Gen. Abdulla Saeed Al Mansoori with the Legion of Merit medal during an award ceremony today at the Royal Bahraini Naval headquarters.
Al Mansoori received the award in recognition of his leadership of Combined Task Force 152, which he commanded from March to June 2008, and marked the first time a Gulf nation commanded a coalition task force.
"Gen. Abdulah's strategic vision and exceptional spirit of cooperation greatly enhanced teamwork and trust between the Navies of the United States and Bahrain by enhancing and standardizing interoperability during a period of increasingly complex security challenges," said the official award citation signed by Gates. "Gen. Abdullah's leadership and determined efforts to significantly invest in Bahrain's naval relationship with the United States has bolstered regional maritime security through his keen understanding of the use of seapower as an instrument of world peace."
Al Mansoori relieved then Rear Adm. Gortney as Commander, CTF 152 March 4, 2008. Gortney commanded CTF 152 and Carrier Strike Group 10, aboard USS Harry S. Truman, prior to assuming command of NAVCENT, July 5, 2008.
Established in 2004, CTF152 is responsible for conducting Maritime Security Operations in the central and southern Persian Gulf.
Under Al Mansoori's command, CTF 152 fostered positive relationships with local mariners by conducting more than 300 Interaction Patrols. Coalition naval forces built a network of mutual trust and respect between regional navies as well as mariners who use the Persian Gulf and conducted bilateral and multinational exercises with coalition partners.
Al Mansoori led one operation and two exercises during his command of the task force. Operation Stake Net focused on protecting key economic infrastructure in the central and southern Persian Gulf, while Exercise Goalkeeper II and III helped the coalition improve interoperability while enhancing regional security and keeping the sea lanes open for the vital flow of commerce throughout the region.
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued both to United States military personnel and to military and political figures of foreign governments.
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