Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Theodore Quintana
PEARL HARBOR – A 2007 Neenah High School graduate and Neenah, Wisconsin, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Lieutenant Dan Lafond is a anti-terrorism and safety officer aboard USS Dewey, currently operating out of San Diego.A Navy anti-terrorism and safety officer is responsible for the management and execution of the training of the ship's security forces as well as the ship's numerous safety programs.
Lafond applies the lessons he learned from Neenah to his work in the Navy.
“I learned hard work from my parents,” said Lafond. “My parents were very hard-working people. They taught me that a little effort goes a long way.”
As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring safety at sea and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
The theme of RIMPAC 2018 is Capable, Adaptive, Partners. The participating nations and forces exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. The relevant, realistic training program includes, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as amphibious, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.
“I am looking forward to working with our allies and fostering better relationships that will also enable us to function together outside of the exercises,” said Lafond.
This is the first time Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are participating in RIMPAC. Additional firsts include New Zealand serving as sea combat commander and Chile serving as combined force maritime component commander. This is the first time a non-founding RIMPAC nation (Chile) will hold a component commander leadership position.
“I’m proud of being selected as department head and the relationships I have built with my sailors during my first four years in the Navy,” said Lafond.
Twenty-six nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific Exercise. This year's exercise includes forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Lafond and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy is a great personal pride and service to my country,” said Lafond. “It is a new experience every day. I am capable of more than I thought I was, and it has enabled me to more effectively do my job no matter the limitations.”
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil