Combined Task Force 151

On January 8, 2009, the United States Central Command created Task Force 151, a multinational headquarters directed at "counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea," a previously declared Maritime Security Patrol Area.

The higher-level command, Task Force 150, under VADM William E. Gortney, U.S. Navy, commanding the United States Fifth Fleet and the multinational maritime forces in the area, was responsible for overall maritime security. Some navies in the Area did not have authority to conduct counter-piracy operations, so they can continue general security operations while TF 151, commanded by RADM Terence E. McKnight.