Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific (COMNAVSURFPAC) is a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

vice admiral, who leads the Naval Surface Force,

United States Pacific Fleet The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level component command of the United States Navy, located in the Pacific Ocean. It provides naval forces to the Indo-Pacific Command. Fleet headquarters is at Joint Base Pearl Harbor� ...

. The commander is also designated as commander, Naval Surface Force (COMNAVSURFOR), a "dual hat", who serves as the Navy's Lead for the Surface Warfare Enterprise. From 1978 to 1987, and probably later, the headquarters has been located at

Naval Amphibious Base Coronado Naval Amphibious Base Coronado (NAB Coronado) is a US naval installation located across the bay from San Diego, California. The base, situated on the Silver Strand, between San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, is a major Navy shore command, sup ...

Coronado, California Coronado (Spanish language, Spanish for "Crowned") is a resort town, resort city located in San Diego County, California, United States, across the San Diego Bay from downtown San Diego. It was founded in the 1880s and incorporated in 1890. It ...

History

The command was commissioned in March 1975. The first commander was Vice Admiral

Robert Samuel Salzer Robert Samuel Salzer (29 July 1919 – 30 January 1988) was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy, who served in World War II, and commanded the United States Naval Forces in Vietnam. Biography Education Salzer was born in New York Cit ...

. Under his command the consolidation of all Cruisers, Destroyers (previously under

COMDESPAC {{Short description, Defunct American naval command of the 1940s Destroyer Force, United States Pacific Fleet, usually known as COMDESPAC, was a type command of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1940 until the Destroyer Force was combined with Cr ...

), Frigates (in Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Pacific), Amphibious (

ComPhibPac ComPhibPac, also seen as COMPHIBPAC, was the official U.S. Navy abbreviation for "Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet." Amphibious forces under the command of ''ComPhibPac'' were known as PhibPac or PHIBPAC. One of PhibPac's subordinate c ...

), Mine Force (previously including

Mine Squadron 7 Mine Squadron 7, (full: ''Commander, Mine Squadron 7'', or alternately Mine Squadron SEVEN) is the designation for a United States Navy minelaying and retrieval command and unit. COMINRON SEVEN was assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet from ...

, disestablished in 1968), Pacific Fleet, Service Force Ships, Tenders and Repair Ships (in Service Force, Pacific Fleet (

ComServPac Service Force, United States Pacific Fleet, usually known as COMSERVPAC, was a service support command of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1942 until 1973. It was the reincarnation of the former Base Force. The Service Force comprised the sup ...

)), Naval Special Warfare Forces (

SEALS Seals may refer to: * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to impress an emblem, used as a means ...

), and Amphibious warfare schools of the Pacific Fleet, was commenced. On 7 June 1975 Vice Admiral Emmett H. Tidd assumed Command of the Naval Surface Force, US Pacific Fleet. During this period, the final consolidation took place. When the task of consolidating the Naval Surface Forces, Pacific Fleet was completed, Admiral Tidd requested retirement. After over 33 years of service, he was retired from the Navy in August 1976 with the permanent rank of vice admiral. On behalf of the President of the United States, he was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of the Third Award of the Distinguished Service Medal, "For exceptionally meritorious service ... ." At that time, the Naval Surface Force of the Pacific Fleet consisted of 183 ships and over 55,000 personnel. In 1978, according to ''Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet'', Eleventh Edition, the command comprised Cruiser-Destroyer Group 1 (with Destroyer Squadrons 5, 13, and 23), Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3 (

Destroyer Squadron 7 Destroyer Squadron 7 (DesRon 7) is a naval unit of the United States Navy stationed in Singapore. It is assigned to the United States Seventh Fleet. Command history 1920-1922 Destroyer Squadron 7 (DesRon 7) was first established in September 1 ...

, Destroyer Squadrons 17 and 27), Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5 (Destroyer Squadrons 9, 21, 31, and 37 (NRF)), Surface Group Western Pacific at

Naval Base Subic Bay Naval Base Subic Bay was a major ship-repair, supply, and rest and recreation facility of the Spanish Navy and subsequently the United States Navy located in Zambales, Philippines. The base was 262 square miles, about the size of Singapore. Th ...

, with

Destroyer Squadron 15 Destroyer Squadron 15 is a squadron of United States Navy ''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyers based at Yokosuka, Japan. History Destroyer Squadron Fifteen was founded in 1920 as a reserve fleet unit. The squadron was disestablished in 1922 and ano ...

subordinate but based at

Yokosuka is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city has a population of 409,478, and a population density of . The total area is . Yokosuka is the 11th most populous city in the Greater Tokyo Area, and the 12th in the Kantō region. The ...

, Japan, Surface Group Middle Pacific in Hawaii with Destroyer Squadrons 25, 33, 35, and

Service Squadron 5 A Service Squadron (ServRon) was a United States Navy squadron that supported fleet combat ships and US Navy Auxiliary ships. Service Squadrons were used by the US Navy from their inception in 1943 to as late as the early 1980s. At the time of ...

, Amphibious Group 1/

Task Force 76 Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN/Task Force 76 (Amphibious Force U.S. SEVENTH Fleet) is a United States Navy task force. It is part of the United States Seventh Fleet and the USN's only permanently forward-deployed expeditionary strike grou ...

in Okinawa, Amphibious Group Eastern Pacific, with its headquarters and Amphibious Squadrons 1, 3, 5, and 7 all in San Diego,

Naval Special Warfare Group 1 A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It inc ...

, Mine Squadron 5 (NRF) with Mine Divisions 51, 52, 53, and 54 (all NRF), and

Service Group 1 Service may refer to: Activities * Administrative service, a required part of the workload of university faculty * Civil service, the body of employees of a government * Community service, volunteer service for the benefit of a community or a pu ...

at Oakland, CA., with Service Squadrons 1 and 3 at San Diego and Vallejo, respectively. By 1984, SurfPac had four destroyer tenders (ADs), one repair ship (AR), and one battleship (seemingly ) reporting directly to it, and Surface Squadron 1 had been established at

Long Beach Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California. Incorporated ...

, CA. Surface Squadron 1 was a mix: it comprised one salvage ship (ARS), 3 ATF, 1 AVM, two frigates, 1 LKA, and 1 LST. Cruiser-Destroyer Groups 1, 3, 5 still directed multiple squadrons, though Service Group 1 had only a single subordinate squadron, Service Squadron 3 headquartered at

Vallejo Vallejo may refer to: Places *Vallejo, California, United States, named after Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo *Vallejo Estate, Sonoma, California, a house and grounds on the National Register of Historic Places *Vallejo Flour Mill, Fremont, California, ...

, comprising seven ammunition ships.

List of commanders

* VADM Robert S. Salzer, March 1975 – June 1975 * VADM Emmett H. Tidd, June 1975 – July 1976 * VADM

William R. St. George William is a masculine given name of Norman French origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conques ...

, July 1976 – May 1979 * VADM

Lee Baggett Jr. Lee J. Baggett Jr. (January 11, 1927 – August 10, 1999) was a four star admiral in the United States Navy who served as Commander in Chief Europe in 1985 and Commander in Chief of the United States Atlantic Command from 1985 to 1988. A native o ...

, May 1979 – July 1982 * VADM

Harry C. Schrader Jr. Harry may refer to: TV shows * ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin * ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons * ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...

, July 1982 – July 1985 * VADM

George W. Davis Jr. George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

, July 1985 – August 1988 * VADM

Robert K. U. Kihune Robert Kalani Uichi Kihune (born 15 June 1937) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral (United States), vice admiral. He served as commanding officer of the Naval Education and Training Command from 1992 to 1994. Kihune earlier served as c ...

, August 1988 – December 1990 * VADM

David M. Bennett David M. Bennett is a San Francisco Bay Area businessman who co-founded Mollie Stone’s Markets, a family-owned chain of grocery stores. In 1985 Bennett co-founded the first natural foods supermarket in the Bay Area. After his retirement from ...

, December 1990 – November 1992 * CAPT

Wirt R. Fladd Wirt may refer to: People Wirt as surname * Elizabeth Washington Gamble Wirt (1784-1857), American author * John S. Wirt (1851–1904), American politician and lawyer * Václav Wirt (1893-1962), Czech gymnast * Wigand Wirt (1460-1519), German t ...

(Interim), November 1992 – April 1993 * VADM

David B. Robinson David Brooks Robinson (born 26 October 1939) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral. He served as commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific from 1993 to 1996. Robinson was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions as the commanding officer of a ...

, April 1993 – June 1996 * VADM

Alexander J. Krekich Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...

, June 1996 – August 1998 * VADM

Edward Moore Jr. Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

, August 1998 – May 2001 * VADM

Timothy W. LaFleur Timothy is a masculine name. It comes from the Greek name ( Timόtheos) meaning "honouring God", "in God's honour", or "honoured by God". Timothy (and its variations) is a common name in several countries. People Given name * Timothy (given nam ...

, May 2001 – March 2005 * VADM

Terrance T. Etnyre Vice Admiral Terrance Thomas Etnyre is a retired flag officer of the United States Navy. Etnyre graduated from the University of Michigan in 1970, and was commissioned an Ensign in July 1971 at Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. ...

, March 2005 – February 2008 * RADM

Kevin M. Quinn Kevin Michael Quinn (born 1955) is a retired rear admiral of the United States Navy. Career Quinn graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1977. He later earned a master's degree in information science from the Naval Postgraduate S ...

(Interim), February 2008 – March 2008 * VADM Derwood C. Curtis, March 2008 – June 2011 * VADM

Richard W. Hunt Richard Wayne Hunt (born 1953) is a United States Navy vice admiral who served as Director - Navy Staff. He retired from active duty in November 2013. Hunt graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science i ...

, June 2011 - July 2012 * VADM

Thomas H. Copeman III Thomas Henry Copeman III (born 1959) is a retired officer of the United States Navy. In mid-2009 he was appointed commandant of the Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba. His final assignment was as Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific fr ...

, July 2012 - August 2014 * VADM

Thomas S. Rowden Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the Ap ...

, August 2014 – January 2018 * VADM

Richard A. Brown Richard Allen Brown (November 13, 1932 – May 4, 2019) was an American attorney and judge from the State of New York. He was the Queens County District Attorney, having held office from 1991 until his death in 2019. Prior to becoming district ...

, January 2018 – August 2020 * VADM Roy I. Kitchener, August 2020 – Present

Previous commanders, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet

The Amphibious Force was formerly known as commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet (ComPhibPac). On 7 December 1941 the post was filled by Marine Major General

William P. Upshur Major General William Peterkin Upshur (October 28, 1881 – July 21, 1943) was the recipient of the United States' highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in 1915 during the Haitian Campaign. Biography William Upshur w ...

. Amphibious Forces, PacFlt comprised the Army's 3rd Infantry Division at

Fort Lewis Fort Lewis may refer to: *Fort Lewis (Colorado), a former United States Army post (1878–1891) in the U.S. State of Colorado **Fort Lewis College, a college in the Durango, Colorado, United States **Fort Lewis Skyhawks, athletic teams of Fort Lewi ...

, under Army operational control, the

2nd Marine Division The 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV) is a division (military), division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The division is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeu ...

, the

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW) is the major east coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered in Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The Wing provides the aviation combat element for the ...

, the 2nd Defense Battalion (see

Marine defense battalions Marine Defense Battalions were United States Marine Corps battalions charged with coastal and air defense of advanced naval bases during World War II. They maintained large anti-ship guns, anti-aircraft guns, searchlights, and small arms to repe ...

), and a depot. One of PhibPac's subordinate commands during World War II was Transports, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, or TransPhibPac. The commander of TransPhibPac was known as ComTransPhibPac. Vice Admiral Wilson Brown was appointed commander of the amphibious forces in the Pacific (ComPhibPac) on 10 April 1942.{{Cite encyclopedia , title=Brown, Wilson, Jr. (1882-1959) , url=http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/B/r/Brown_Wilson_Jr.htm , encyclopedia=The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia , author= Kent G. Budge , accessdate=4 August 2010 On March 8, 1944, Vice Admiral

Richmond K. Turner Admiral (United States), Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner (May 27, 1885 – February 12, 1961), commonly known as Admiral Kelly Turner, served in the United States Navy during World War II, and is best known for commanding the Amphibious Force, Pa ...

reported to the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet, as Commander Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.U.S. Pacific Fleet
Transport Doctrine, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet
September 1944, via HyperWar. Vice Admiral Turner's orders as Commander FIFTH Amphibious Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet remained in force on his assumption of the higher command. On June 1, 1944, the Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, were reconstituted by the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet and Vice Admiral Turner assigned additional duty as TYPE COMMANDER for all Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet. The AMPHIBIOUS Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet consisted of Transports-Assault (APA), Cargo Vessels-Assault (AKA), Transports (AP), Cargo Vessels (AK), Civilian Manned Transports (XAP), and Cargo Vessels (XAK), Landing Ship Vehicles (LSV), Landing Ship Docks (LSD), Landing Ship Tanks (LST), Patrol and Special Craft (PCS, SC, LCC), Landing Craft (LSM, LCI(L), LCI(G), LCT(6), LCT(5), APc), Landing Boats, Training Commands, and Amphibious Operating, Repair and Training bases. These Forces were designated TASK Force Thirteen. Subordinate Commanders of the Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet are as follows: * Commander Amphibious Group ONE, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Commander Amphibious Group TWO, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Commander

Amphibious Group THREE Amphibious means able to use either land or water. In particular it may refer to: Animals * Amphibian, a vertebrate animal of the class Amphibia (many of which live on land and breed in water) * Amphibious caterpillar * Amphibious fish, a fish ...

, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Commander Amphibious Group FOUR, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Commander Amphibious Group FIVE, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Commander Amphibious Group SIX, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Commander Amphibious Group SEVEN, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Commander Amphibious Group TWELVE, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Commander Support Aircraft * Commander, Training Command, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Commander, Administrative Command, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet * Transport Squadron Commanders * Transport Division Commanders The Commander Support Aircraft is placed by the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, under the control of Commander Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, for administration and training. When needed for operations and upon request by Commander Amphibious Forces, Commander Support Aircraft reports to Commander THIRD or FIFTH Amphibious Force for Operation Control. Office space is provided at Amphibious Force Headquarters. This post was disestablished in 1975 and its functions were passed on to Naval Surface Force, US Pacific Fleet. * 1948–1950: RADM

Bertram J. Rodgers Bertram Joseph Rodgers (March 18, 1894 – November 30, 1983) was a highly decorated Vice Admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. He received his Navy Cross as a Captain of USS ''Salt Lake City'' in the battle of the Komando ...

* 1950–1950: RADM

Peter K. Fischler Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

* 1950–1953: VADM

Ingolf N. Kiland Ingolf is a masculine given name, that has its roots in Germanic mythology. The first part "Ing" refers to the germanic god Yngvi, the second part means "wolf". It may refer to: *Count Ingolf of Rosenborg (born 1940), member of the Danish royal fa ...

* 1953–1954: VADM

William M. Callaghan William McCombe Callaghan (August 8, 1897 – July 8, 1991) was a United States Navy officer who served as the first captain of the battleship Fowler, G. (1991)William M. Callaghan dies at 93; headed Logistics Service for Navy ''New York Ti ...

* 1954–1956: VADM

Thomas G. W. Settle Thomas Greenhow Williams "Tex" Settle (November 4, 1895 – April 28, 1980) was an officer of the United States Navy who on November 20, 1933, together with Army major Chester L. Fordney, set a world altitude record in the ''Century of Prog ...

* 1956–1958: VADM

Carl F. Espe Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", List of Aqua Teen ...

* 1958–1960: VADM

John Sylvester John Sylvester may refer to: *John Sylvester (admiral) (1904–1990), United States Navy admiral * John Sylvester (cricketer) (born 1969), Grenadian cricketer * John N. Sylvester (1909–1993), American politician in the state of Washington *John B ...

* 1960–1963: VADM

Howard A. Yeager Howard is an English-language given name originating from Old French Huard (or Houard) from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave", or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian". It is also probabl ...

* 1963–1964: VADM

Ephraim P. Holmes Ephraim Paul Holmes (May 14, 1908 – February 23, 1997) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic from 1967 to 1970. Early career Born i ...

* 1964–1965: VADM

John B. Colwell John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Seco ...

* 1965–1966: VADM

Bernard F. Roeder Bernard Franklin Roeder (February 4, 1911 – September 3, 1971) was a decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral, who held many important assignments, including commander in chief of United States First Fleet and ...

* 1966–1968: VADM

Francis J. Blouin Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Francis (surname) Places *Rural M ...

* 1968–1970: VADM

John V. Smith John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

* 1970–1972: VADM

Nels C. Johnson Nels is a given name. Notable people with the given name include: *Nels Anderson (1889–1986), American sociologist *Nels Andrews, American folk singer * Nels Cline (born 1956), American guitarist and composer *Nels Crutchfield (1911–1985), Cana ...

* 1972–1975: VADM Robert S. Salzer

References

External links

U.S. Naval Institute, "Navy Stands Up Surface Development Squadron for DDG-1000, Unmanned Experimentation"
*Commander, Naval Surface Force Type commands of the United States Navy Military units and formations established in 1975 1975 establishments in the United States