Operations Specialist Chief Petty Officer Justin McDaniel, of Cedar Bluff, receives his chief cover during a Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony on the flight deck aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Howard (DDG 83) in the South China Sea.

Howard is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexandria Esteban)