Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3, greets Chairman of Defense Gen. Rafael Melara, chief of the joint staff of the armed forces, El Salvador, during a bilateral engagement aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America is currently traveling through the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility on its maiden transit, "America Visits the Americas." America is the first ship of its class, replacing the Tarawa-class of amphibious assault ships. As the next generation "big-deck" amphibious assault ship, America is optimized for aviation, capable of supporting current and future aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The ship is scheduled to be ceremoniously commissioned Oct. 11 in San Francisco. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Huey D. Younger Jr./Released)