36 January 2016 www.bahrainthismonth.com interview Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan NAVCENT/5th Fleet oversees US Naval military operations throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, along with 2.5 million square miles of surrounding oceans. These vital waterways include three of the world’s most critical maritime straits. The area of operations runs from along the west coast of India in the east, all the way to the mouth of the Suez Canal at the Mediterranean Sea in the west and includes all of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf and as far south as Kenya. Vice Adm Donegan says: “This region is arguably the most dynamic and challenging in the world from a military operations perspective. My aim is to provide the right oversight and guidance needed by our forward deployed Naval forces to carry out their critical missions. “Four nations in this region are currently embroiled in conflict and our forces are playing an important role in each of them. Naval aviation from our aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships are striking ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria. We are providing advice, intelligence and logistics support to the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Navy personnel remain in Afghanistan, primarily in the form of one of the country’s most critical trauma hospitals, supporting international forces.” A big part of the command’s work is ensuring free and safe maritime passage for legitimate shipping. “Forty per cent of the energy vital to the global economy passes through this region’s maritime chokepoints and these crucial NEW MAN ON THE BRIDGE global commons remain stable, open and safe because America’s Navy operates forward here, each and every day, around the clock. “Together with our allies and partnering nations, NAVCENT forces ensure the uninterrupted free flow of commerce through the region by keeping these sea lanes open and safe for legitimate use. If just one major maritime chokepoint was closed restricting trade, within about six weeks, gasoline prices could quadruple and a litre of milk would almost triple in price, as would the price of any commodity that must be transported to a market,” explains the Vice Adm. With regular travel across the region and constant contact with his local counterparts, Vice Adm Donegan is very keen to take local perspectives on board. He says: “I’ve been getting out and seeing my counterparts and others. Talking to them about what they think I should be doing, they’ve seen a lot of commanders come and go. They’ve seen some things work and some not, they’ve seen a lot of change in the region. “I think that to be a good leader, you have to be a good listener and I’m trying to put that into practice.” He points out that, aside from coming to work in traffic the same as everyone else, there is no such thing as an average day. But he says: “A big part of my job is ensuring that we have as complete an understanding as possible of the dynamic forces at play in the region that could LIZ O’REILLY The new man in charge at Bahrain’s US Naval base, Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, Commander, US Naval Forces Central Command, US 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces, spoke to BTM about settling in to his role. lead to conflict. To manage all that, NAVCENT leads joint and coalition forces, including three multinational task forces and nine US naval task forces which provide oversight for strike forces, contingency response forces, mine warfare assets, logistical support, submarine forces, surface forces, expeditionary combat forces, maritime patrol forces and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief coordination. “The United States is one of 30 nations, including regional partners and traditional US allies, making up the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which I also have the honour to lead. Together with NAVCENT, the CMF conducts more than 50 naval exercises each year, including the International Mine Counter Measures Exercise, the largest maritime exercise in the world.“ As well as the US Navy’s military role, there Meeting the Coastguard
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