The USS Donald Cook departs Naval Station Mayport on overseas deployment. | News4Jax
Published on March 26, 2026 at 10:40 am
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Ships homeported at Naval Station Mayport are playing a significant role in the American military response in the Middle East, as Operation Epic Fury continues.
The USS Donald Cook recently departed Mayport on what officials describe as a scheduled deployment. The departure comes as U.S. forces remain involved in ongoing military operations tied to the conflict involving Iran.
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Deployments are planned years in advance. Many of these deployments follow a long-established rotation cycle.
Forces are often assigned a tentative deployment date or timeline months — or even years — in advance, then schedule their training around that window to ensure they are fully prepared.
Units can deploy during peacetime or during an active conflict, such as the one unfolding now.
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For the families and friends saying goodbye to loved ones, these departures serve as a steady reminder of the role Jacksonville-based forces play in overseas operations.
For the family and friends of Lt. j.g. Madison Mooers, Wednesday’s farewell was anything but easy.
“She’s our baby, and we care about her, but we care about everyone else — pray for all of them,” said Frances and Joe Mooers, Madison’s parents. “We know we’re the best military force in the world, so we’re hoping that stands behind her, and pray they bring everybody home safely.”
Mooers’ boyfriend, Ben Ratliff, said he’s focused on staying strong for her.
“Holding it together — you gotta stay strong. I feel like she’s gonna need some support here,” Ratliff said. “So just trying to make sure that I’m in a good spirit, keeping it all grounded back at home for it.”
Cmdr. Sean Hanley, the commanding officer of the USS Donald Cook, expressed confidence in his crew ahead of the deployment.
“We’ve been training, and it’s amazing what this crew can do, and how we’ve been able to respond to any issues, and I’m really proud of the sailors that have worked so hard to get us at this point,” Hanley said.
New images released by U.S. Central Command show naval forces show ships homeported at Naval Station Mayport operating in support of Operation Epic Fury.
Photos posted to DVIDS show the USS Winston Churchill firing Tomahawk land-attack missiles in late February. Another Mayport-based ship, the USS Thomas Hudner, was also photographed supporting the mission.
The USS Donald Cook’s deployment came just one day after the USS Mason departed from Mayport.
Like the USS Mason, the Donald Cook’s primary capabilities include ballistic missile defense and surface warfare.
Navy officials have not confirmed what specific mission the USS Donald Cook will carry out in Operation Epic Fury, but the imagery illustrates how Mayport-based destroyers can support operations through missile defense and strike capability when tasked.
This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.
