Vice Admiral Frank Craig Pandolfe

Vice Adm. Pandolfe is commander, 6th Fleet; 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.  He assumed those duties, Oct. 3, 2011.

He grew up in New England, graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980, and was awarded a doctorate in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 1987.

At-sea, he served in USS David R. Ray (DD 971), USS John Hancock (DD 981), USS Hue City (CG 66), and USS Forrestal (CV 59).  He commanded USS Mitscher (DDG 57) from 1999 to 2001, earning three Battle Efficiency Awards for operational excellence and three Golden Anchor awards for superior retention.  He subsequently commanded Destroyer Squadron 18 from 2003 to 2004, operating as sea combat commander for Enterprise Carrier Strike Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  From 2008 to 2009, he led Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group on a combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Ashore, he was assigned to the Navy Staff as executive assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations, the Joint Staff as deputy director for Strategy and Policy, and the White House Staff as military aide and advisor to the vice president of the United States.  Most recently, he served as director, Surface Warfare Division, OPNAV N86. In that role, he led efforts to introduce the Littoral Combat Ship to the fleet, build the Zumwalt Class destroyer, and restart the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke Class destroyer line.

Pandolfe’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and additional individual, campaign, and unit awards.