Carrier Strike Group 9 Serves as Fleet-Command Element During 2025 Seattle Seafair Fleet Week

by Commander, Carrier Strike Group 9

27 August 2025 SEATTLE – Rear Adm. Wilson Marks, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, and members of CSG 9 staff participated in the 76th Seattle Fleet Week, July 29-Aug. 3, 2025.

In support of Navy Region Northwest, CSG 9 provided the command and control function for fleet participants, to include force protection, administrative, and public affairs support and coordination with the two U.S. Navy ships participating in the event, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) who hosted over 7,800 people during ship tours held throughout the week.

“Seattle Fleet Week was an outstanding opportunity for the Navy to give back to and strengthen relationships with the communities it serves,” said Marks. “CSG 9 was honored to be there and to interact with the greater Seattle community to show them the pride we have in our nation and Navy.”

Throughout the week, Marks participated in numerous outreach events, kicking off with the Mayor’s Reception at Seattle City Hall, July 30. The event included 40 members of the Navy, Marines, U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy alongside senior leaders Rear Adm. Gregory Todd, Navy Chief of Chaplains, Marks, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Arex Avanni, commander, USCG Northwest District, Capt. Jason Sherman, Commander Navy Region Northwest, Royal Canadian Navy Capt. Samuel Patchell, commander, Canadian Pacific Fleet, U.S. Navy Capt. Andy Koy, commanding officer, USS Somerset (LPD 25), and U.S. Navy Capt. Andrew Bucher, commanding officer, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125).

Marks and staff, alongside other Seattle Seafair Fleet Week senior military leaders from the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy, visited the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, July 31. The leaders met with hospital staff, veterans and families and the Navy Band Northwest Woodwind Quintet had a performance for the over 200 people in attendance.

On Aug. 1, Marks toured Microsoft Federal in Redmond, Wash., learning more about their progress in data storage and cloud computing and how Microsoft supports the Department of Defense in operational settings.
Later, Marks attended presentations and discussions at Saltchuk and subsidiary units Saltchuk Marine, TOTE Group, OSG Inc. and NorthStar Energy in downtown Seattle. Discussions included the ways government contracts and commercial support may adapt to better accommodate ongoing defense needs.

Somerset and Jack H. Lucas offered public tours at Seattle’s Pier 46, while the ships’ crews participated in annual festivities across the city of Seattle to include Community Service (COMREL) activities and excursions at locations around Seattle, including the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture, and Seattle Children’s Hospital Playroom.

Carrier Strike Group 9 is composed of Theodore Roosevelt, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, Destroyer Squadron 23 and the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65).

CSG 9 provides a combat-ready force to protect and defend the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its global allies and partners.
For more information about Carrier Strike Group 9, please visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/ccsg9/ and https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/COMCARSTRKGRU-9.