SAN DIEGO (July 2, 2018) Rear Adm. Dave Welch, center right, commander of Task Force (CTF) 177, meets with CTF-177 leadership during a Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise Southern California pre-sail briefing at Naval Base Point Loma. CTF-177 is the RIMPAC mine warfare commander. Welch is also commander of the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, and the Navy's global mine warfare commander. Twenty-five nations, 46 ships, five submarines, about 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 27 to Aug. 2 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security of the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Matthew A. Stroup/Released)