Trump taps Aquilino as new INDOPACOM chief

By Justin Doubleday / December 3, 2020 at 5:30 PM

President Trump has nominated Adm. John Aquilino to serve as the next head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the Pentagon announced today.

Aquilino currently serves as the head of U.S. Pacific Fleet.

If confirmed, Aquilino would take over for Adm. Phil Davidson, who has led INDOPACOM since 2018. Earlier this year, Davidson's command sent lawmakers a report, "Regain the Advantage," detailing how INDOPACOM requires about $20 billion over six years to execute the National Defense Strategy's focus on competition with China and Russia.

Davidson has also advocated for increasing U.S. missile defenses in the Pacific and establishing a vast testing complex across nearly the entire ocean.

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