(Nov. 25, 2020) Capt. Christopher Gilbertson, commanding officer of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 55, right, speaks to Acting Secretary of Defense, Christopher C. Miller during a visit on board Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Nov 25. CTF 55 commands surface forces such as U.S. Navy patrol craft, U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats and independently deployed ships in U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, which encompasses nearly 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The region is comprised of 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab-al-Mandeb at the Southern tip of Yemen. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Crouch) (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Crouch)