The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) has returned to Naval Station Norfolk after completing a nearly three-month deployment in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. The ship and its crew departed on February 25, embarking on a mission aimed at strengthening maritime partnerships, enhancing regional security, and conducting multinational naval operations in the Caribbean and surrounding waters.
Captain Nathan Diaz, commanding officer of the USS Normandy, expressed immense pride in the accomplishments of his crew during this deployment. “I could not be more proud of Normandy’s sailors and their relentless drive to execute the nation’s tasking,” he stated. “While independently deployed, it was an honor for our crew to reinforce the maritime commons with partners like Colombia, France, Guyana, the Netherlands, Panama, and the U.K.”
Throughout the deployment, the Normandy participated in several high-profile exercises, including the Trilateral Maritime Exercise on March 3, in cooperation with the Royal Navy’s HMS Medway and the Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS Groningen. This exercise emphasized coordinated maneuvers and aviation drills, showcasing the capabilities of allied naval forces, including the deployment of a Royal Netherlands NH-90 helicopter.
In addition, the Normandy conducted a Bilateral Exercise with Guyana on March 27, working closely with the Guyana Defence Force patrol vessel GDFS Shahoud. Supported by an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50, this exercise focused on formation maneuvers and communication drills, aimed at bolstering regional maritime cooperation.
Throughout its deployment, the Normandy engaged in Theater Security Cooperation port visits and collaborative operations with regional partners, solidifying the U.S. Navy’s commitment to ensuring unity and stability in the Caribbean, Central, and South American maritime regions.
Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, commander of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, praised the crew’s efforts, stating, “The crew of Normandy has exceeded all expectations while operating with partner and ally nations and strengthening maritime partnerships in the Caribbean. The successful completion of their third deployment in the last year and a half is a testament to the grit, determination, and selflessness of the Sailors and their families.”
Commissioned in December 1989, the USS Normandy is a multi-mission surface combatant capable of supporting carrier battle groups, amphibious forces, or operating independently as a flagship of surface action groups. The cruiser’s namesake honors the pivotal World War II Battle of Normandy.
As part of the U.S. 2nd Fleet, which was reestablished in 2018, the Normandy operates to develop and employ maritime-ready forces across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic, ensuring access, deterring aggression, and defending U.S., allied, and partner interests in an ever-evolving global security environment.
