Harry B Harris Jr News

Adm. Scott H. Swift returned to his home state and relieved Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during a change of command ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, May 27. "The magnitude of this moment is not lost on me, especially given my personal and professional history here in Hawaii and the Pacific," said Swift, who became the 35th commander since the Pacific Fleet moved to Hawaii in 1941. "No one is selected for responsibility such as that of the Pacific Fleet based on personal merit or performance alone. Swift also spoke of his fond connection to Hawaii, where he was born when his father was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Harris said Swift's Pacific ties made him the perfect officer to relieve him.

Senior military leaders from 14 nations gathered at U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) headquarters here in Hawaii for the Naval War College Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Flag Officer Course Feb. 5-11. The 27 CFMCC participants came from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the United States. "This course is one of the most important international venues the U.S. Navy hosts and directly supports our strategic rebalance to the Indo-Asia-Pacific," said Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) held a change of command ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) at Naval Air Station North Island Jan. 22. During the ceremony, Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker relieved Vice Adm. David H. Buss as CNAF. While serving as the Navy's "Air Boss" since October 2012, Buss ensured the material readiness, administration, and training for all Naval Aviation commands and provided operationally ready squadrons and aircraft carriers to the fleet. He also led the Naval Aviation Enterprise, a partnership between Navy and Marine Corps aviation organizations that work closely to improve processes for more efficient and effective Naval Aviation forces.

Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, has directed the activation of the hospital ship 'USNS Mercy' (T-AH 19) to be ready to support ongoing disaster relief efforts in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. Berthed in San Diego, USNS Mercy has been in a reduced operating status, which is normal for a hospital ship. Harris' activation order accelerates Mercy's ability to attain full operating status to include moving necessary personnel and equipment to the ship.

The commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet reaffirmed America's commitment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance during a keynote speech in Canberra, Australia, October 31. In his first international trip since assuming command on October 16, Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. delivered his remarks at the Kokoda Foundation Conference during a trilateral strategic dialogue among Australia, Japan and the United States. "Let me assure you, if you only remember one thing from my remarks tonight, it should be this," Harris said.

In a ceremony today at Naval Support Activity Capodichino in Naples, Italy, Capt. Richard Soucie assumed command from Capt. James E. Tranoris of Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa, also called MSCEURAF, MSC’s Naples-based office. MSCEURAF is responsible for MSC ships operating in the European and African theaters and is dual-hatted as Commander, Task Force 63, coordinating and providing transportation and delivery of personnel, equipment, fuel, supplies, repair parts, mail and ammunition via air and surface logistics assets to sustain U.S. forces in the European and African theaters. Soucie reports to MSCEURAF from his most recent duty as director of the Plans and Policy Division in the manpower and personnel directorate at U.S. Central Command Headquarters in Tampa, Fla.