SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (July 9, 2021) Robert W. Thomas, Charg' d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo, boards the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15), July 9, 2021. Billings conducted a three-day port visit in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and the ship hosted a reception aboard for government and military leaders. Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South�s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Austin G. Collins)