Carrier Move

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has accelerated by four months, to late summer, the deployment of the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis (CVN-74) and its strike group to the U.S. Central Command area of operations, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters today.

The decision, which will maintain a two-carrier presence in the region, was made in response to CENTCOM requirements, Little said.

He added that the move would not temporarily boost the presence there to three carriers. Asked whether concerns about Iran drove the decision, he said no single country or threat sparked the move.