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The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Sept. 28, 2026, after a 10-month deployment across the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations that included direct support to Operation Epic Fury.
During the deployment, the ship operated with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), with embarked staffs from Carrier Strike Group 3, Destroyer Squadron 21 and Carrier Air Wing 9. Frank E. Petersen Jr. departed Hawaii on Dec. 1, 2025, joining strike group operations in 7th Fleet, where the group conducted presence missions in the South China Sea aimed at deterring aggression, reinforcing alliances and partnerships, and promoting stability.
The strike group shifted to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in late January to bolster maritime security and regional stability in the Middle East. “Every Sailor on this ship played a vital role in achieving our mission objectives. I am proud of each and every one for what we accomplished as a team,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Casey Mahon, commanding officer of Frank E. Petersen Jr. “Their dedication to duty, attention to detail, and unwavering professionalism ensured the success of our operations. I am grateful for their sacrifices and proud to lead such a capable and committed team.”
Serving as the Integrated Air and Missile Defense commander for the strike group, Frank E. Petersen Jr. provided ballistic missile defense and supported Navy operations during Operation Epic Fury. The ship contributed to what was described as the largest naval blockade in decades and supported freedom of navigation through contested waterways. In April, the destroyer transited the Strait of Hormuz to assist blockade efforts and mine detection operations, helping keep the critical passage open to commercial and military traffic.
Over 300 days at sea, the crew conducted 45 replenishments at sea, covered more than 85,000 nautical miles, transferred over 7,544,486 gallons of F-76 fuel and 175,288 gallons of JP-5, and logged 1,094 hours of flight quarters. “This deployment challenged us in many ways and required every Sailor to perform at their very best,” said Mahon. “Despite the pressures and complexities of our missions, the crew rose to the occasion every time, ensuring the safety, security, and strategic interests of our nation. Most importantly, the crew never gave up on the ship and never gave up on their shipmates.”
Port visits during the deployment included Guam; Duqm, Oman; Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory; and Sriracha, Thailand.
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group comprises the carrier Abraham Lincoln; the embarked staffs of Carrier Strike Group 3, Destroyer Squadron 21 and Carrier Air Wing 9; the destroyers Frank E. Petersen Jr., Spruance and Michael Murphy; and more than 70 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
U.S. 3rd Fleet, an element of U.S. Pacific Fleet, leads naval forces in the region and delivers training to execute the Navy’s full range of missions, from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The command works with allied and partner nations to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, the rule of law, and other principles that support regional security.
