PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 17, 2020) Cmdr. Stephen Hiers, right, from Houston, briefs Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper, center, and Vice Adm. Scott Conn, commander of U.S. 3rd Fleet, during a tour of the combat direction center aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Esper toured the ship's composite warfare commander spaces, receiving in-depth briefs on carrier strike group interoperability and naval power defense. Carl Vinson is currently underway conducting flight deck certification and carrier air traffic control center certification. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron T. Smith)