Ambassador Wayne Meets Governor Zamora in Santiago del Estero

April 6, 2009

Navy chief Admiral Jorge Godoy and Ambassador Wayne

Ambassador Wayne participated on April 6, together with the Argentine Navy chief Admiral Jorge Godoy, in the farewell ceremony for the Fragata Libertad, which sailed from Puerto Madero for its annual training trip.

“The close relationship between the US Navy and the Argentine Navy has been ongoing since 1933, when the US Navy was invited in an advisory capacity to assist the Argentine Navy in establishing its Naval War College.  Most recently, a US Navy had the honor to send a female officer on the ARA Libertad’s last cruise,” said Ambassador Wayne during the ceremony. 

The relationship between those two institutions continues today with exchange officers attending both schools. “As the US Navy does not have a comparable school ship to the Fragata Libertad,  US Naval Academy students are sent to active duty ships for training during their summer break” Ambassador Wayne remarked.

Recently, besides exchange programs and training trips, the United States Naval Academy sent 80 members of the men’s Glee Club Choral Group to Argentina.  These students performed at the Argentine Naval Academy, Iglesia Guadalupe, and Teatro Argentino in La Plata.  The students were able to meet with their fellow students at the Argentine Naval Academy and enjoyed the cultural experience of Buenos Aires.  

“It is an honor for me to be at this ceremony, bidding farewell to the emblematic Fragata Libertad in its traditional annual training trip,” said Ambassador Wayne.