USS Anchorage (LPD 23) Welcomes “Leaders to Sea” Participants

by Ensign Brianna Curley

16 July 2022 SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES -- Six emergency service leaders of San Diego County attended Leaders to Sea aboard USS Anchorage (LPD 23), July 14.

Emergency service leaders included Sherriff Anthony Ray, San Diego County Sherriff’s Department, Chief Chuck Kaye, city of Coronado Chief of Police, Fire Chief Colin Stowell, City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, Chief Roxana Kennedy, City of Chula Vista Chief of Police, Chief Jayson Summers, City of Coronado Division Chief, and Captain Dustin Kulling, Coronado Police Department Field Services Division.

Leaders began their day with a harbor tour provided by Assault Craft Unit One (ACU 1). Following their harbor tour leaders were flown to the USS Anchorage aboard an MH-60 Seahawk. Once aboard they were given the opportunity to eat lunch on the mess decks with Sailors, tour the ship, sit down with the commanding officer, and experience joint Marine Corps and Navy exercises.

Capt. Pete Riebe, Commanding Officer, USS Anchorage (LPD 23) said, “It’s great having leaders from all around San Diego onboard to see how Marines and Sailors operate together. They were able to observe the Blue/Green team in action and see firsthand our ability to synchronize effects and project combat power ashore.”

Anchorage is currently homeported in San Diego and is part of Amphibious Squadron SEVEN, along with USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) and USS Makin Island (LHD 8).

The Leaders to Sea program is sponsored by the Commander, Naval Surface Forces and is designed to provide influential community leaders, educators, and business and industry executives with insight into the daily operations of a Navy ship at sea. The goal is to increase awareness of the leadership development and career opportunities that the Navy provides, to provide a view into life in the Navy, and to build advocates for the Navy within the civilian world.