Greensboro Native Participates In World’s Largest International Maritime Warfare Exercise

By Chief Yeoman Vicki Sonnenberg
Navy Office of Community Outreach

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – Seaman Dylan York, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, serves aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Bremerton, Washington, and participating in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

York graduated from Providence Grove High School in 2025 and joined the Navy one year ago.

“After graduating from high school, I did not have a concrete plan for my future, and the Navy seemed like an exciting opportunity,” York said.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Greensboro.

“Growing up in a small rural town taught me the importance of being part of a close-knit community,” York said. “We learned to rely on one another, support our neighbors, and work together to overcome challenges.”

Today, York serves as a personnel specialist.

As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, 31 nations, approximately 40 surface ships, five submarines, 14 national land forces, over 140 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will participate in RIMPAC 2026. This exercise provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring safety at sea and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2026 marks the 30th exercise in a series that began in 1971.

The theme of RIMPAC 2026 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.” The participating nations and forces exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. The relevant, realistic training program includes gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as amphibious, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.

It is fitting that the world’s premier maritime exercise occurs as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary. For 250 years, the United States has built relationships with international partners based on trust, cooperation, and shared values. RIMPAC is where that trust is put into practice, strengthening the people-to-people relationships that are the bedrock of all the nations’ collective security.

York plays an important role in the exercise.

“RIMPAC has been an incredible experience. This is my first time participating and visiting Hawaii, and it has been exciting to see so many partner nations working together,” York said. “As a personnel specialist, my job is to ensure our ship’s crew is supported by processing pay and personnel entitlements while we are underway.”

York serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.

“Serving in the Navy has given me the chance to meet people from different backgrounds and experience places I never would have had the opportunity to see back home,” York said.

York is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank my dad, Stephen, for always providing guidance, keeping me on the right path, and encouraging me to make good decisions” York said. “I’m grateful for the opportunities the Navy has given me so far and look forward to continuing to grow and make the most of every experience throughout my career.”

Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2026 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, Rear Adm. Richard Meyer., who will serve as Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. Chile will fill the role of deputy commander of the CTF, and Japan will fill the role of vice commander. The Republic of Korea will command the maritime component, and Canada will command the air component.

During RIMPAC, a network of capable, adaptive partners train and operate together in order to strengthen their collective forces and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. RIMPAC 2026 contributes to the increased interoperability, resiliency and agility needed by the Joint and Combined Force to deter and defeat aggression by major powers across all domains and levels of conflict.