The current commander of U.S. naval forces in the Pacific has been tapped to lead all U.S. forces in the region, the Pentagon announced on Monday afternoon.
Adm. Harry Harris — who has served as U.S. Pacific Fleet commander since October of 2013 — will replace current U.S. Pacific Command head Adm. Samuel Locklear, pending approval from the Senate.
A career naval flight officer, Harris has logged more than 4,400 hours in maritime patrol surveillance aircraft.
Harris has served in every U.S. geographical combatant command.
He previously commanded U.S. 6th fleet — U.S. naval forces in Africa and Europe — as well as VP-46, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo and Striking and Support Forces NATO.
Harris was also the chief speechwriter for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Communication Networks (OPNAV N6).
The following is the text from the Sept. 22 , 2014 Pentagon announcement.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced today that the president has made the following nomination:
Navy Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. for reappointment to the rank of admiral and for assignment as commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Honolulu, Hawaii. Harris is currently serving as commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
