of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. From 1998 through 2001, she supported Pacific theater operations in both the Third Fleet and Seventh Fleet area of operations. During this time she participated in numerous bilateral and multilateral exercises with our Pacific Theater partner. Following the 11 September attacks, she was redirected Bahrain to the Northern Arabian Sea where she launched Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles against Afghanistan in October 2001. In 2003, 2005 and 2007 Key West conducted deployments to the Western Pacific in support of Seventh Fleet operations. In 2007, Key West was named "Battle E" for COMSUBRON THREE, given to the best submarine in its squadron, awarded the Arleigh Burke Trophy for the most improved sea command in the Pacific, and awarded the Naval Unit Commendation for its outstanding accomplishments during the deployment. In 2009, Key West was again awarded the "Battle E" award for COMSUBRON Three for outstanding performance during the 2009 WESTPAC deployment. In 2012, Key West shifted home port to Naval Base Guam to support Seventh Fleet operations as a forward deployed unit. On 31 October 2022, Key West arrived at Busan, South Korea for a scheduled port visit. Key West returned from her final deployment in November 2022, and is scheduled to start the decommissioning process in 2023. Command emblem The conch shell is the focal point of the submarine's emblem for the fabled horn of the Greek God Triton and the symbol of the submarine's namesake city. Key West is emerging from the shell which symbolizes the emergence of the city as the leading city of the Florida Keys. The submarine insignia symbolizes the heritage that the ship has with all past and future submarines. The motto "Liberate Clavis Tenacitas et Ingenium" translates to "The Key to Freedom is Tenacity and Resourcefulness". Specifically, the phrase "The Key to Freedom" represents the namesake city and the submarine's mission to protect the fundamental rights and liberties of the American people. The phrase "Tenacity and Resourcefulness" was used by the Mayor of Key West during his speech at the ship's launching to describe the characteristics of a true Conch —a native of Key West. Additionally, "Ingenium" is a word used by the ancient Greek and Roman historians to describe the resourcefulness and ingenuity of sailors in the period. In popular fiction In the Tom Clancy novel Red Storm Rising, Key West participated in a cruise missile strike against