PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 13, 2021) Capt. Fred Goldhammer, commanding officer, center, Capt. Matthew Ventimiglia, executive officer, left, and Command Master Chief Chris King cut a cake in the aft mess decks of the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during a celebration of the U.S. Navy’s 246th birthday. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Natasha ChevalierLosada)