By Ho`okele Staff
Leadership of two top Hawaii-based military commands, U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) and U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), will change hands May 27 at a double change of command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH).
Adm. Scott H. Swift will assume command of U.S. Pacific Fleet from Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. at 9 a.m. at Kilo Pier at JBPHH.
Immediately following the U.S. Pacific Fleet ceremony, Harris will assume command of U.S. Pacific Command, headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith from Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert will also be in attendance. The ceremony will be covered realtime on U.S. Pacific Command social media sites and streamed live at www.defense.gov.
He took command of PACOM on March 9, 2012 and is retiring.
He previously served as director, Navy Staff as well as ashore assignments as executive assistant to the vice chief of naval operations. His career as a surface warfare officers includes command assignments as commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet; commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa; and Allied Joint Force Command Naples.
Harris was promoted to admiral and assumed command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet on Oct. 16, 2013. He is the 34th commander since the fleet was established in February 1941.
Harris is the highestranking Asian American in the history of the Navy and the first to attain the rank of four-star admiral. His career assignments have included assistant to the chairman of the JCS where he served as the chairman’s direct representative to the secretary of state, chief speechwriter for the chairman of the JCS, and three tours on the Navy Staff.
Swift comes to PACFLT from his position as director, Navy Staff, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon where he has been assigned since September 2013. He was previously the commander of U.S. 7th Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan.