PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 16, 2023) Capt. Manuel Pardo, left, executive officer aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), launches an F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from the flight deck in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 16, 2023. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Bakerian)