Ship in the Spotlight: USNS William McLean
19 May 2025
SHIP IN THE SPOTLIGHT --
Congratulations to this week's Military Sealift Command “Ship in the Spotlight,” USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12). McLean recently participated alongside ships from 10 Allied nations in At Sea Demonstration (ASD)/Formidable Shield 25, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO - STRIKFORNATO, in the North and Norwegian Seas and North Atlantic Ocean. The exercise is designed to enhance Allied interoperability in a joint, live-fire, Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) environment using NATO command and control reporting structures. "There is simply no substitute for the training and learning that occurs when we operate in these intensely realistic scenarios," said Capt. Michael Dwan, Commander, Task Group 154.64 and STRIKFORNATO's U.S. Maritime Ballistic Missile Defense Assets Advisor. "Training as a collective using NATO command and control reporting structure forges the bonds of interoperability and strengthens the alliance as a whole. Exercises like ASD/FS are critical for refining our collective integrated air and missile defense capabilities, ensuring we can respond effectively to any threat from any direction and maintain a credible deterrent posture."