Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Joe Rullo
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly arrived at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, for a three-day engagement with U.S. and host nation officials and military leadership to discuss pertinent issues related to the region March 20-22.
Modly kicked off the tour with an All-Hands Call for Sailors and Marines forward deployed to Camp Lemonnier (CLDJ) and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). Speaking to nearly 300 service members, he discussed and took questions regarding observations of the U.S. role in the area, the overall mission of the Navy in Africa, and challenges they may face while mobilized.
Modly also stressed relationship building with the local population of Djibouti.
“When Sailors are out on these deployments, they are the face of the diplomatic mission of the United States,” said Modly. “To a lot of people around the world, a U.S. service member could be the first American they ever meet.”
During his visit, Modly met with the U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, Larry E. Andre, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Djibouti, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti Minister of Defense, Ali Hassan Bahdon, Deputy Commander CJTF-HOA, Brig. Gen. James R. Kriesel, and CLDJ Commanding Officer, Capt. Charles J. DeGilio.
DeGilio said the men and women of Camp Lemonnier, a majority of whom are Reservists, work hard to complete the mission of the base and when someone like the Under Secretary visits, it reinforces their efforts.
“We are very grateful that Secretary Modly took the time to come to Camp Lemonnier,” DeGilio said. “His presence reminds people here that leadership back home still thinks about them during their deployment and what they do makes a real difference every day.”
The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy, and he directly supports the Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer in the formulation and implementation of policies and programs that are consistent with the national security policies and objectives established by the President and the Secretary of Defense.
Camp Lemonnier is an operationally-focused shore installation that enables U.S., allied and partner nation forces to be where and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.
The mission of Camp Lemonnier is to enable joint warfighters operating forward and to reinforce the relationship between the United States and Djibouti by conducting five key shore missions – air operations, port operations, security, safety and quality of life – and providing core mission enablers such as fuel, water and power for tenant commands, transient U.S. assets and individual service members.