An Indian origin woman has become the first female Commander of a US destroyer warship to visit Chennai.
Indian-American Shanti Sethi is at the helm of the USS Decatur, which docked in Chennai for four days last week, an American embassy statement said in New Delhi.
“The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is led by Commander Shanti Sethi, an American of Indian descent. Commander Sethi is also the first female commanding officer of a US navy ship to visit Chennai,” the statement said.
Timothy J. Roemer, US ambassador to India, said: “A strong defence relationship is essential to the US-India strategic partnership. Ship visits strengthen our already strong bilateral military relationship and augment the extensive maritime security efforts between our two democracies.”
Mr Roemer said the visits enhanced people-to-people ties that were the bedrock of US-India partnership.
“That the USS Decatur is led by Commander Shanti Sethi, an Indian-American woman, is yet another example of the close bond between the American and Indian people. Our people-to-people ties continue to grow and expand in education, business, the arts, intelligence, and in defence.”
The destroyer Decatur has 278 sailors on board, including 45 women officers. Its primary mission is to operate with Expeditionary Strike Groups and Carrier Strike Groups in high-threat environments. The ship can also provide essential escort capabilities to navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces, combat logistics ships, and convoys.
In Chennai, Decatur crew members took part in various community service events, and Commander Sethi met local students.
The port call of USS Decatur comes close on the heels of the USNS Safeguard, a salvage class vessel, which visited Port Blair Jan 4-11.
“US navy port visits promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and demonstrate US commitment to regional partners while fostering growing defence relationships,” the embassy statement said.