190119-N-OM854-0067 ARABIAN GULF (Jan. 19, 2019) An MH-53E Sea Dragon, assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, prepares to land as it transports the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Russell Smith to the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). While aboard, Richardson and Smith engaged with leadership, observed shipboard operations, and reenlisted 22 Sailors in the ship�s hangar bay. The John C. Stennis Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Grant G. Grady/Released)