USS MOUNT WHITNEY

• Flagship Role: USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) serves as the flagship for the United States Sixth Fleet, providing command and control capabilities for joint and combined military operations. • Named After a Mountain: The ship is named after Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States, symbolizing its high command role. • Commissioned in 1971: USS Mount Whitney was commissioned on January 16, 1971, and has been in active service for over 50 years. • Amphibious Command Ship: As a Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship, Mount Whitney is equipped with advanced communications and control systems, enabling it to serve as a floating headquarters. • Bosnia and Kosovo Operations: The ship played a critical role in coordinating NATO’s operations during the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s. • Humanitarian Missions: USS Mount Whitney has participated in several humanitarian missions, including disaster relief in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. • Dual Crewing: The ship operates with a unique crew composition, combining U.S. Navy sailors and Military Sealift Command civilian mariners. • State-of-the-Art Upgrades: Mount Whitney underwent significant modernization in 2004, receiving state-of-the-art communication, navigation, and command systems. • Homeport in Italy: Since 2005, the ship’s homeport has been Gaeta, Italy, enhancing U.S. Navy presence and rapid response capability in Europe and Africa. • Libya Operations: In 2011, USS Mount Whitney served as the command ship for Operation Odyssey Dawn, coordinating coalition strikes during the Libyan Civil War.