Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3, addresses the media during a press conference on the flight deck of future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) shortly after the ship moored in Valparaiso, Chile for a scheduled port visit. America is currently traveling through the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility on her 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 1st Class Vladimir Ramos/Released)