PACIFIC OCEAN (July 21, 2022) - Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday meets with sailors from partner nations aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, July 21. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 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 on the world's oceans. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Amanda R. Gray/Released)