Chief Damage Controlman Jeffrey Davis, from Cherry Valley, a graduate of Rockford Christian High School, assigned to USS America (LHA 6), the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship, was promoted to a U.S. Navy chief petty officer in a ceremony in the ship’s hangar bay. The Navy is unique among the services in recognizing and celebrating promotion to E-7 as a major milestone in a Sailor’s career. America, flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.