A ceremony at Naval Support Facility Deveselu on Thursday, May 12 at 12:00 p.m. will commemorate the operational certification of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS)-Romania. Romanian officials and representatives of the U.S. Departments of Defense and State, the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and NATO will participate in the event.

Following the ceremony, there will be a short press availability and an opportunity to film the exterior of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System Complex.

Journalists attending the ceremony are expected at the Deveselu base gate (GPS coordinates are 44°04'36.6'N 24°23'05.6'E) between 8:30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. on May 12. Activities dedicated to the media will start at 11:00 a.m. at the Naval Support Facility, Deveselu.

Additionally, there will be an opportunity to receive BMD background briefings and on-the-record discussion with Frank Rose, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance, and Ambassador Douglas Lute, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, on May 11 in Bucharest. Time and location for that media availability will be provided separately.

Journalists interested in covering the ceremony will need to confirm their participation by providing their full name (first and surname), media outlet, passport/national ID number, press ID number, DSNG trucks license plate number, contact info (cell phone number, e-mail) to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense by e-mail (presamapn@mapn.ro) before May 9, 12:00 p.m.

Press Department