191013-N-WS494-1052 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 13, 2019) Capt. Patrick Hannifin, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, right, and Capt. David Pollard, executive officer of USS Ronald Reagan, cut cake in celebration of the Navy’s 244th birthday in the aft mess decks. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Quinton A. Lee/Released)