Head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command up for Pentagon post

NORFOLK

If the Senate approves it all, a four-star shuffle will be underway.

Adm. Jonathan Greenert, current commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, has been nominated to become the vice chief of naval operations at the Pentagon.

Greenert would replace Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, who has been tapped to head to Pearl Harbor to assume command of the Pacific Fleet after Adm. Robert Willard leaves that job to assume command of U.S. Pacific Command for a retiring Adm. Timothy Keating.

Greenert is scheduled to be replaced at Fleet Forces by Vice Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., who is currently the director of Navy staff for Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations. Harvey would receive a fourth star to make the transfer.

Greenert, a former submariner, has been in Norfolk at Fleet Forces since late Sept. 2007.

Fleet Forces Command oversees the training and equipping of Navy air, surface and submarine forces worldwide. It is also responsible for the military sealift command, as well as the Navy’s expeditionary combat, munitions and network warfare commands. The fleet forces commander reports to the chief of naval operations.

Greenert’s previous assignments have included commander of 7th Fleet and deputy commander of the Pacific Fleet.

Matthew Jones, (757) 446-2949, matthew.jones@pilotonline.com.