230627-N-HG389-1053 SINGAPORE (June 27, 2023) Cmdr. John Van Wagoner, commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Oakland (LCS 24) shows professional staff from the House Armed Forces Committee a crew living space at Changi Naval Base in Singapore, June 27. Oakland, part of Destroyer Squadron 7, is on a rotational deployment operating in the U.S. 7TH Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with Allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. As the U.S. Navy’s destroyer squadron forward-deployed in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7’s Sea Combat Commander and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Brandon Parker)