Rear Adm. Joseph Tofalo, director, undersea warfare division, N97, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), was nominated to the rank of Vice Admiral and position of commander, Naval Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR); commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and commander, Allied Submarine Command, Norfolk, Va.
Tofalo is a career submariner with service on the now decommissioned USS Flasher (SSN-613) attack boat and the Ohio-class USS Michigan (SSGN-727).
He his command tours include the ballistic nuclear missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN-741), Submarine Squadron 3 and Commander, Submarine Group 10.
Tofalo is a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has served as the head of N97 since December of 2013.
If approved by the Senate, Tofalo would replace current COMSUBFOR Vice Adm. Michael Connor, who has been COMSUBFOR since September of 2012.
It’s unclear where Connor is headed after almost three years at the Norfolk, Va. command. His name, among others, has been mentioned as a candidate to replace Adm. John Richardson as the head of Naval Reactors, following Richardson’s nomination to replace Adm. Jonathan Greenert as the Chief of Naval Operations.
Representatives at Naval Reactors and COMSUBFOR contacted by USNI News had no additional information on Connor’s plans beyond his current position.
The following is the May 20, 2015 announcement on Tofalo’s nomination.
Navy Rear Adm. Joseph E. Tofalo, for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and for assignment as commander, Naval Submarine Forces; commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and commander, Allied Submarine Command, Norfolk, Virginia. Tofalo is currently serving as director, undersea warfare division, N97, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
