New PACOM Chief Confirmed

The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved President Obama's nomination of Navy Adm. Samuel Locklear to become the next head of U.S. Pacific Command, the panel announced this morning. According to the official bio of the 1977 Naval Academy graduate:

His career as a surface warfare officer includes assignments aboard USS William V. Pratt (DDG 44), USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS Callaghan (DDG 994) and USS Truxtun (CG 35), culminating in command of the USS Leftwich (DD 984). Subsequent fleet command assignments include commander, Destroyer Squadron Two, commander, Nimitz Strike Group, and commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet.

Ashore, he served as executive assistant to the vice chief of naval operations, the 78th commandant of midshipmen, United States Naval Academy, director, Assessment Division (OPNAV N81), and director, Programming Division (OPNAV N80). Prior to Locklear’s current assignment, he served as director, Navy Staff from July 2, 2009 to Sept. 10, 2010.

He is a 1992 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from George Washington University.

As commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe he is responsible for providing overall command, operational control, and coordination of U.S. naval forces in the European area of responsibility. As commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa he is responsible for providing overall command, operational control, and coordination of U.S. naval forces in the Africa Command area of responsibility. As commander, Allied Joint Force Command, Naples, Locklear currently has operational responsibility for NATO missions in the Balkans, Iraq, and the Mediterranean. He assumed his duties on Oct. 6, 2010.

The committee also approved the nomination of Mark Lippert to be assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, along with 2,430 other military nominations.