Navy Capt. Kathryn Donovan, Commodore 22nd Naval Construction Regiment (22 NCR) and 22 NCR Command Master Chief Joseph Perrone, recently traveled from Gulfport, Miss. to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti to visit the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 Detail Horn of Africa (Det. HOA) Feb.17-18. NMCB 74 Det. HOA is currently deployed to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) to assist in building partnerships in partner nations where the U.S. and coalition forces have common strategic interests.

Donovan and Perrone met with Rear Adm. Brian Losey, commander CJTF-HOA, and members of his staff to discuss the role of the Seabees in Africa, and how they can best be utilized to accomplish the Navy’s Maritime Strategy.

“Command Master Chief and I came to see what “74” was doing, to improve relationships with CJTF-HOA, and see what future work we can get for the Seabees,” said Donovan. “When I met with Adm. Losey, he couldn’t say enough about all the work NMCB 74 has done here and how the Seabees are one of his most effective units that he can send out to make a quick decisive impact.”

During their visit, Donovan and Perrone were able to see firsthand the work going on at the Ecole 5 primary school construction project in Djibouti. They both said they were impressed with the hard work NMCB 7 and NMCB 74 put in to make so much progress on the school.

“It’s this type of project that builds relationships between our troops and the locals nearby. Once the project is completed, these local school children will remember us and we’ll have left a positive impression,” said Donovan. “This is executing the Maritime Strategy of building partnerships with our host nations and it’s just amazing, the strategic benefit we will get from this.”