Surface Navy Association Members Visit USS Benfold

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
Commander, U.S. FIFTH Fleet
Combined Maritime Forces
Office of Public Affairs
FPO AE 09501-6008
For Immediate Release
Release # XXX-08
www.cusnc.navy.mil
July 27, 2008
Surface Navy Association Members Visit USS Benfold
MANAMA, Bahrain - USS Benfold (DDG 65) conducted a tour for the Surface Navy Association (SNA) Bahrain
Chapter, July 24 highlighting the Navy’s ability to search, track, hand-off and intercept ballistic missiles—a core
element of our Navy’s Ballistic Missile Defense program (BMD).
“BMD presents a great opportunity for the surface community to contribute to National Security,” said
Benfold’s Commanding Officer, Commander Tom Disy. “The time is now for us to further develop and refine the
tactics, techniques and procedures necessary to operationalize this fantastic capability.”
Benfold’s Fire Control Officer, Lt.j.g. Maggie White gave a presentation and guided tour to numerous SNA
members, along with U.S. Army Patriot Battalion personnel.
“We’re at the forefront of BMD technology and capability,” she said. “It’s an exciting time to be in the Navy
and a member of Benfold.”
Following the tour, SNA members, as well as members of the Benfold wardroom, attended a BMD briefing
given to Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
“It was great being exposed to the information that someone like Vice Adm. Gortney receives,” said Ensign
Mark Belanger, Benfold’s Strike Officer. “This is a perspective a young junior officer does not always get to see.”
Benfold recently participated in an inter-theatre ballistic missile exercise with USS Russell (DDG 59). Russell,
operating in the eastern Mediterranean, and Benfold, operating in the Northern Arabian Gulf, exhibited simultaneous
presence of Aegis ballistic missile defense in the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf. During the exercise, the ships
worked with one another to engage and diffuse a simulated ballistic missile threat by sharing data to track, engage
and intercept the threat.
Benfold is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO) as
part of the USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group and is home-ported in San Diego, Calif.
Maritime Security Operations help develop security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability
and global prosperity. These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and
seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel,
weapons or other material.