CCA USS Ponce, Norfolk, Va.

• USS Ponce (LPD-15) Origin: The USS Ponce was an Austin-class amphibious transport dock commissioned in 1971, named after the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. • Norfolk Homeport: Throughout much of her service life, USS Ponce was homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, serving as a key asset for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. • Carrier for Amphibious Operations: Ponce was designed to transport and land Marines, their equipment, and supplies by embarked landing craft or amphibious vehicles. • Lebanon Peacekeeping: In 1982 and 1983, USS Ponce participated in peacekeeping operations off the coast of Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War, supporting U.S. Marines ashore. • Operation Desert Storm: The ship took part in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, transporting Marines and equipment for amphibious operations in the Persian Gulf. • Unique Forward Deployed Role: In 2012, USS Ponce was converted to serve as an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB), a unique role as a "sea base" supporting special operations and mine countermeasures in the Persian Gulf. • Laser Weapon System (LaWS): USS Ponce became the first U.S. Navy vessel to deploy an operational laser weapon system, the LaWS, for testing and real-world use in the Arabian Gulf in 2014. • Multi-National Exercises: The ship regularly participated in major exercises, such as NATO’s Exercise Teamwork and Bold Alligator, fostering interoperability with allied navies. • Crew Composition: During her final years, Ponce operated with a hybrid crew of U.S. Navy sailors and civilian mariners from the Military Sealift Command, a rare arrangement for a Navy warship. • Decommissioning and Legacy: USS Ponce was decommissioned on October 14, 2017, after 46 years of service. Her legacy includes innovation in naval sea basing and directed-energy weapons.