By PETER ATKINSON, Deputy Editor, Seapower Magazine

Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, was the featured speaker at the Monterey Peninsula, Calif., Council’s September meeting at the Monterey Maritime Museum. During his remarks, Roughead updated the group of Navy supporters on the state of the Pacific Fleet.

“Your fleet is maintaining the sea lanes of commerce, free from the disruption of terrorist attacks,” he said.

Roughead noted that the 9/11 attacks on commercial aviation would be an economic blip in comparison to the impact on the global economy should ocean thoroughfares be compromised. He also discussed changes in the Pacific Rim force structure, which include the planned movement of 8,000 U.S. Marines from Japan to Guam.