Vice Adm. Christopher Grady, Vice Adm. Charles Richard, Rear Adm. Timothy J. White
The Pentagon announced several high-ranking Navy nominations for the top spots at U.S. Fleet Forces, the U.S. Submarine Force and the Navy’s cyber arm in a Wednesday news release.
Current U.S. 6th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Christopher Grady has been nominated to lead U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, to replace current commander Adm. Phil Davidson. Davidson is the top contender to replace current U.S. Pacific Command commander Adm. Harry Harris, who was nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Australia. Grady is a career surface warfare officer who has commanded the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, Destroyer Squadron 22, guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG-67) and Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Ardent (MCM-12). Grady has served as 6th Fleet commander since October 2016.
Deputy Commander of U.S. Strategic Command Vice Adm. Charles Richard has been tapped to lead the Navy’s submarine forces, following current commander Vice Adm. Joseph Tofalo. Richard is a career submariner whose commands have included USS Parche (SSN-683), Submarine Squadron 17 and the decommissioned nuclear deep diving Submarine NR-1. Ashore he served as the director of undersea warfare (N97) on the Chief of Naval Operations staff in the Pentagon. He’s served as the STRATCOM deputy since September 2016.
The Navy’s Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Rear Adm. Michael T. Moran has been selected to succeed Vice Adm. Dave Johnson as principal military deputy for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. In this role, Moran would be the top uniformed official within the Navy acquisition community. Moran is a career aviator who primarily flew the P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft. Ashore he served as military assistant to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition for Technology and Logistics and commanded the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif. He’s served as program executive officer for tactical aircraft programs (PEO(T)) since late 2015.
Rear Adm. Timothy J. White, currently serving as commander of Cyber National Mission Force at U.S. Cyber Command, will succeed Vice. Adm. Michael Gilday as the commander of Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. 10th Fleet. White is a career surface warfare officer and cryptologist who served aboard USS Wisconsin (BB-63) and has commanded the Naval Security Group Activity Bahrain (1999-2001) and Navy Information Operations Command in Maryland.
All of the nominations are subject to Senate approval.
The following is the complete Feb. 28, 2018 release on the Navy nominations.
Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis announced today that the president has made the following nominations:
Navy Vice Adm. Christopher W. Grady for appointment to the rank of admiral, and for assignment as commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia. Grady is currently serving as commander, Sixth Fleet; commander, Task Force Six; commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO; deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa; and Joint Force Maritime Component commander Europe, Naples Italy.
Navy Vice Adm. Charles A. Richard for reappointment 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. Richard is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
Navy Rear Adm. Michael T. Moran for appointment to the rank of vice admiral, and for assignment as principal military deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (research, development, and acquisition), Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. Moran is currently serving as program executive officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs, Patuxent River, Maryland.
Navy Rear Adm. Timothy J. White for appointment to the rank of vice admiral, and for assignment as commander, Fleet Cyber Command; and commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet, Fort Meade, Maryland. White is currently serving as commander, cyber, National Mission Force, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Maryland.
Navy Capt. David A. Welch has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Welch is currently serving as director for international engagement, N52, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.
