USS '' Mahan '' left Naval Station Norfolk on 28 December 2012 , for a maritime security operation deployment to the United States Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility . The ship made port visits in Augusta Bay , Sicily , Naples , Italy , Haifa , Israel , Limassol , Cyprus , Souda Bay , Crete , Rhodes , Greece , and Larnaca , Cyprus . The crew participated in community relations projects at every port . The ship also stopped for fuel in Funchal , Madeira and Naval Station Rota in Spain . During '' Mahan '' s visit to Rhodes , Commander Zoah Scheneman relieved Commander Adam Aycock as commanding officer on 7 May 2013 . '' Mahan '' remained in theater after the Ghouta chemical attack in Syria . '' Mahan '' returned on 13 September 2013 , and had a pinning ceremony for ten ( 10 ) chief petty officer selects as soon as the ship was moored
Ghouta chemical attack
Ghouta chemical attack
USS Mahan (DDG-72)