U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Dec. 16, 2016) Rear Adm. William W. Wheeler, Deputy Commander, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, greets USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Sailor of the Year, Petty Officer 1st Class Benjamin Odea, from Lansing, Mich., during a tour aboard the amphibious assault ship. Makin Island is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Devin M. Langer)

GULF OF ADEN (Dec. 16, 2016) USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Senior Medical Officer, Cmdr. Karlwin Matthews, right, speaks with Chief of Djiboutian Navy Col. Abdourahman Cher, left, Rear Adm. William W. Wheeler, Deputy Commander, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, and the U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, Mr. Tom Kelly in the ship’s medical triage. Makin Island is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Devin M. Langer)

GULF OF ADEN (Dec. 16, 2016) Left to right, Commander, Amphibious Squadron Five Capt. Michael Crary, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Commanding Officer Col. Clay Tipton, Defense Attaché at U.S. Embassy Djibouti Capt. John Tully, Chief of Djiboutian Navy Col. Abdourahman Cher, USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Melson, U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti Mr. Tom Kelly, and Deputy Commander, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Rear Adm. William W. Wheeler III meet on Makin Island’s underway quarterdeck before touring the amphibious assault ship. Makin Island is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Devin M. Langer)

GULF OF ADEN (Dec. 16, 2016) USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Melson, right, discusses landing craft air cushion operations with Deputy Commander, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Rear Adm. William W. Wheeler III during a tour of the amphibious assault ship’s well deck. Makin Island is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Devin M. Langer)