Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
	Commander's seal
	Flag of a U.S. Navy four-star admiral
	Incumbent; Admiral Stephen Koehler; since April 4, 2024
	United States Pacific Fleet
Abbreviation	COMPACFLT
Reports to	Secretary of the Navy (administrative); Chief of Naval Operations (administrative); Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (operational);
Seat	Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Appointer	The President; with Senate advice and consent
Term length	2–3 years; (approx.)
Formation	July 22, 1907
First holder	RADM William T. Swinburne
Deputy	Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
Website	Official website

The Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), is the title of the United States Navy officer who commands the United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT). Originally established in 1907 as a two-star rear admiral's billet, the position has been held by a four-star admiral since March 19, 1915.

As of April 4, 2024^[update], Admiral Stephen Koehler is the 65th and current Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.^[1]

History

The position has been known by several titles since its inception.

1907 to December 6, 1922: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT)
December 6, 1922 to April 1, 1931: Commander-in-Chief, Battle Fleet (CINCBATFLT)
April 1, 1931 to February 1, 1941: Commander, Battle Force, United States Fleet (COMBATFOR)
February 1, 1941 to October 24, 2002: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT)
October 24, 2002 to present: Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT)

List of commanders

No.	Commander		Term
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT)
1		Swinburne, William T.Rear Admiral William T. Swinburne (1847–1928)	July 22, 1907	May 17, 1909	1 year, 299 days
2		Sebree, UrielRear Admiral Uriel Sebree (1848–1922)	May 17, 1909	February 19, 1910	278 days
3		Harber, Giles B.Rear Admiral Giles B. Harber (1849–1925)	February 19, 1910	November 1, 1910^[2]	255 days
-		Barry, Edward ButtevantRear Admiral Edward B. Barry (1849–1938)	November 1, 1910	January 15, 1911	75 days
-		Thomas, Chauncey Jr.Rear Admiral Chauncey Thomas Jr. (1850–1919)	January 15, 1911	1912	~351 days
4		Southerland, William Henry HudsonRear Admiral William H. H. Southerland (1852–1933)	1912	March 1913	~1 year, 59 days
5		Cowles, Walter ClevelandRear Admiral Walter C. Cowles (1853–1917)	March 1913	January 1914	~306 days
6		Howard, Thomas BentonAdmiral Thomas B. Howard (1854–1920)	January 1914	September 13, 1915	~1 year, 255 days
7		Winslow, Cameron McRaeAdmiral Cameron M. Winslow (1854–1932)	September 13, 1915	July 29, 1916	320 days
8		Caperton, William BanksAdmiral William B. Caperton (1855–1941)	July 29, 1916	April 30, 1919	2 years, 275 days
9		Rodman, HughAdmiral Hugh Rodman (1859–1940)	July 1, 1919	July 5, 1921	2 years, 4 days
10		Eberle, Edward WalterAdmiral Edward W. Eberle (1864–1929)	July 5, 1921	December 6, 1922	1 year, 154 days
Commander-in-Chief, Battle Fleet (CINCBATFLT)
10		Eberle, Edward WalterAdmiral Edward W. Eberle (1864–1929) ^[a]	December 6, 1922	June 30, 1923	206 days
11		Robison, Samuel ShelburneAdmiral Samuel S. Robison (1867–1952)	June 30, 1923	October 14, 1925	2 years, 106 days
12		Hughes, Charles FrederickAdmiral Charles F. Hughes (1866–1934)	October 14, 1925	September 4, 1926	325 days
13		Jackson, Richard HarrisonAdmiral Richard H. Jackson (1866–1971)	September 4, 1926	September 10, 1927	1 year, 6 days
14		de Steiguer, Louis RodolphAdmiral Louis R. de Steiguer (1867–1947)	September 10, 1927	May 21, 1929	290 days
15		Pratt, William VeazieAdmiral William V. Pratt (1869–1957)	June 26, 1928	May 21, 1929	329 days
16		Nulton, Louis McCoyAdmiral Louis M. Nulton (1869–1954)	May 21, 1929	May 24, 1930	1 year, 3 days
17		Schofield, Frank HermanAdmiral Frank H. Schofield (1869–1942)	May 24, 1930	April 1, 1931	312 days
Commander, Battle Force, United States Fleet (COMBATFOR)
17		Schofield, Frank HermanAdmiral Frank H. Schofield (1869–1942)	April 1, 1931	September 15, 1931	167 days
18		Leigh, Richard HenryAdmiral Richard H. Leigh (1870–1946)	September 15, 1931	August 11, 1932	331 days
19		McNamee, LukeAdmiral Luke McNamee (1871–1952)	August 11, 1932	May 20, 1933	282 days
20		Standley, William HarrisonAdmiral William H. Standley (1872–1963) ^[a]	May 20, 1933	July 1, 1933	42 days
21		Reeves, Joseph MasonAdmiral Joseph M. Reeves (1872–1948)	July 1, 1933	April 1, 1935	349 days
22		Brumby, Frank HardemanAdmiral Frank H. Brumby (1874–1950)	June 15, 1934	April 1, 1935	290 days
23		Laning, HarrisAdmiral Harris Laning (1873–1941)	April 1, 1935	March 30, 1936	364 days
24		Leahy, William DanielAdmiral William D. Leahy (1875–1959) ^[a]	March 30, 1936	December 31, 1936	276 days
25		Bloch, Claude CharlesAdmiral Claude C. Bloch (1878–1967)	December 31, 1936	January 29, 1938	1 year, 29 days
26		Kalbfus, Edward CliffordAdmiral Edward C. Kalbfus (1877–1954)	January 29, 1938	June 24, 1939	1 year, 146 days
27		Richardson, James OttoAdmiral James O. Richardson (1878–1974)	June 24, 1939	February 1, 1941	1 year, 222 days
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT)
28		Kimmel, Husband EdwardAdmiral Husband E. Kimmel (1882–1968) ^[b]	February 1, 1941	December 17, 1941	319 days
-		Pye, William SatterleeVice Admiral William S. Pye (1880–1959) Acting	December 17, 1941	December 31, 1941	14 days
29		Nimitz, Chester WilliamFleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (1885–1966) ^[c]	December 31, 1941	November 24, 1945	3 years, 328 days
30		Spruance, Raymond AmesAdmiral Raymond A. Spruance (1886–1969)	November 24, 1945	February 1, 1946	69 days
31		Towers, John HenryAdmiral John H. Towers (1885–1955)	February 1, 1946	February 28, 1947	1 year, 27 days
32		Denfeld, Louis EmilAdmiral Louis E. Denfeld (1891–1972)	February 28, 1947	December 3, 1947	278 days
33		Ramsey, DeWitt ClintonAdmiral DeWitt C. Ramsey (1888–1961)	December 3, 1947	April 30, 1949	1 year, 148 days
34		Radford, Arthur WilliamAdmiral Arthur W. Radford (1896–1973)	April 30, 1949	July 10, 1953	4 years, 71 days
35		Stump, Felix BudwellAdmiral Felix B. Stump (1894–1972)	July 10, 1953	January 14, 1958	4 years, 188 days
36		Curts, Maurice EdwinAdmiral Maurice E. Curts (1898–1976)	January 14, 1958	February 1, 1958	18 days
37		Hopwood, Herbert GladstoneAdmiral Herbert G. Hopwood (1898–1966)	February 1, 1958	August 30, 1960	2 years, 211 days
38		Sides, John HaroldAdmiral John H. Sides (1904–1978)	August 30, 1960	September 30, 1963	3 years, 31 days
39		Sharp, Ulysses S. Grant Jr.Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp Jr. (1906–2001) ^[d]	September 30, 1963	June 26, 1964	270 days
40		Moorer, Thomas HinmanAdmiral Thomas H. Moorer (1912–2004) ^[e]	June 26, 1964	March 30, 1965	277 days
41		Johnson, Roy LeeAdmiral Roy L. Johnson (1906–1999)	March 30, 1965	November 30, 1967	2 years, 245 days
42		Hyland, John Joseph Jr.Admiral John J. Hyland Jr. (1912–1998)	November 30, 1967	December 5, 1970	3 years, 5 days
43		Clarey, Bernard AmbroseAdmiral Bernard A. Clarey (1912–1996)	December 5, 1970	September 30, 1973	2 years, 299 days
44		Weisner, Maurice FranklinAdmiral Maurice F. Weisner (1917–2006)	September 30, 1973	August 12, 1976	2 years, 317 days
45		Hayward, Thomas BibbAdmiral Thomas B. Hayward (1924–2022)	August 12, 1976	May 9, 1978	1 year, 270 days
46		Davis, Donald CookeAdmiral Donald C. Davis (1921–1998)	May 9, 1978	July 31, 1981	3 years, 83 days
47		Watkins, James DavidAdmiral James D. Watkins (1927–2012) ^[a]	July 31, 1981	May 28, 1982	301 days
48		Foley, Sylvester Robert Jr.Admiral Sylvester R. Foley Jr. (1928–2019)	May 28, 1982	September 16, 1985	3 years, 111 days
49		Lyons, James Aloysius Jr.Admiral James A. Lyons Jr. (1927–2018)	September 16, 1985	September 30, 1987	2 years, 14 days
50		Jeremiah, David ElmerAdmiral David E. Jeremiah (1934–2013)	September 30, 1987	February 15, 1990	2 years, 138 days
51		Larson, Charles RobertAdmiral Charles R. Larson (1936–2014)	February 15, 1990	February 15, 1991	1 year, 0 days
52		Kelly, Robert JosephAdmiral Robert J. Kelly (born 1938)	February 15, 1991	August 6, 1994	3 years, 172 days
53		Zlatoper, Ronald JosephAdmiral Ronald J. Zlatoper (1942–2022)	August 6, 1994	November 7, 1996	2 years, 93 days
54		Clemins, Archie RayAdmiral Archie Clemins (1943–2020)	November 7, 1996	October 8, 1999	2 years, 335 days
55		Fargo, Thomas BoultonAdmiral Thomas B. Fargo (born 1948)	October 8, 1999	May 4, 2002	2 years, 208 days
56		Doran, Walter FrancisAdmiral Walter F. Doran (born 1945)	May 4, 2002	October 24, 2002	173 days
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT)
56		Doran, Walter FrancisAdmiral Walter F. Doran (born 1945)	October 24, 2002	July 8, 2005	2 years, 257 days
57		Roughead, GaryAdmiral Gary Roughead (born 1951)	July 8, 2005	May 8, 2007	1 year, 304 days
58		Willard, Robert FrederickAdmiral Robert F. Willard (born 1950)	May 8, 2007	September 25, 2009	2 years, 140 days
59		Walsh, Patrick MichaelAdmiral Patrick M. Walsh (born 1955)	September 25, 2009	January 20, 2012	2 years, 117 days
60		Haney, Cecil Eugene DiggsAdmiral Cecil D. Haney (born 1955)	January 20, 2012	October 16, 2013	1 year, 269 days
61		Harris, Harry Binkley Jr.Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. (born 1956)	October 16, 2013	May 27, 2015	1 year, 223 days
62		Swift, Scott HarbisonAdmiral Scott H. Swift (born 1957)	May 27, 2015	May 17, 2018	2 years, 355 days
63		Aquilino, John ChristopherAdmiral John C. Aquilino (born 1962)	May 17, 2018	April 30, 2021	2 years, 348 days
-		Koehler, Stephen ThomasRear Admiral Stephen T. Koehler (born 1964) Acting	April 30, 2021	May 5, 2021	5 days
64		Paparo, Samuel John Jr.Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr. (born 1964)	May 5, 2021	April 4, 2024	2 years, 335 days
65		Koehler, StephenAdmiral Stephen T. Koehler (born 1964)	April 4, 2024	Incumbent	259 days

In popular culture

In the movie, Top Gun: Maverick, Val Kilmer plays Adm. Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

References

^ "Admiral Stephen T. "Web" Koehler". U.S. Pacific Fleet. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
^ "Admiral Barry named Pacific Squadron Chief". Los Angeles Herald. Washington. October 4, 1910 [October 3, 1910]. p. 14. Retrieved December 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Term shortened due to appointment as Chief of Naval Operations.
^ Relieved of command after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
^ Nimitz was appointed CINCPAC in grade of admiral; he was promoted to fleet admiral on December 19, 1944.
^ Term shortened due to appointment as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command.
^ Term shortened due to appointment as Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Command and U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

External links

[1] "Admiral Stephen T. "Web" Koehler". U.S. Pacific Fleet. Retrieved April 5, 2024.

[2] "Admiral Barry named Pacific Squadron Chief". Los Angeles Herald. Washington. October 4, 1910 [October 3, 1910]. p. 14. Retrieved December 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[cno-3] Term shortened due to appointment as Chief of Naval Operations.

[4] Relieved of command after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

[5] Nimitz was appointed CINCPAC in grade of admiral; he was promoted to fleet admiral on December 19, 1944.

[6] Term shortened due to appointment as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command.

[7] Term shortened due to appointment as Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Command and U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

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