ROTA, SPAIN – Lieutenant Richard ‘Cayce’ Stepp is serving in Spain at U.S. Naval Hospital Rota.

Stepp supports ballistic-missile defense ships that are forward deployed to Naval Station or NAVSTA Rota. A native of Decatur, he graduated in 1997 from Austin High School.  

Stepp works as a Navy healthcare administrator at U.S. Naval Hospital Rota and is responsible for the coordination of care for more than 3,500 sailors and their families.

Stepp credits his success in the Navy with lessons learned growing up in Decatur. “Growing up, I learned responsibility, accountability for my actions and that family comes first in life,” Stepp said.

Naval Station Rota is operationally equipped with four forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. The station is tasked to enhance the ballistic missile defense of the European region.

These four destroyers have a critical NATO mission, specifically to provide full coverage protection for all NATO European populations, territories and forces. These vessels are ready to defend against the increasing threats posted by the ability to acquire ballistic missiles capabilities.

According to the NATO website, many countries have developed, or are trying to develop, ballistic missiles. The ability to acquire these capabilities does not necessarily mean that an immediate intent exists to attack NATO.

However, the alliance has a responsibility to take any possible threat into account as part of its core task of collective defense.

Note: Headquartered in Millington, Tenn., the Navy Office of Community Outreach travels globally to collect sailors’ stories. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian T. Glunt researched this story.

For more information, visit outreach.navy.mil, navy.mil/local/csg9 or Facebook/Navy Office of Community Outreach.