United States Fleet Forces Command

The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFF)[1] is a service component command of the United States Navy that provides naval forces to a wide variety of U.S. forces. The naval resources may be allocated to Combatant Commanders such as United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) under the authority of the Secretary of Defense. Originally formed as United States Atlantic Fleet (USLANTFLT) in 1906, it has been an integral part of the defense of the United States of America since the early 20th century. In 2002, the Fleet comprised over 118,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel serving on 186 ships and in 1,300 aircraft, with an area of responsibility ranging over most of the Atlantic Ocean from the North Pole to the South Pole, the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the waters of the Pacific Ocean along the coasts of Central and South America (as far west as the Galapagos Islands). The command is based at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads in Norfolk, Virginia and is the navy's service component to U.S. Northern Command[2] and is the Joint Functional Maritime Component Command under the U.S. Strategic Command.[3][4]

United States Fleet Forces Command
(USFF)
The seal of the Commander of United States Fleet Forces Command.
Founded1906 (1906)
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Navy
TypeForce-providing command
Part ofU.S. Northern Command
Garrison/HQNaval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia, U.S.
EngagementsWorld War I
World War II
Vietnam War
Global War on Terrorism
Commanders
Current
commander		Admiral Christopher W. Grady

The command's mission is to organize, man, train, and equip Naval Forces for assignment to Unified Command Combatant commanders; to deter, detect, and defend against homeland maritime threats; and to articulate Fleet warfighting and readiness requirements to the Chief of Naval Operations.[5]

History

Expansion and contraction
Atlantic Squadron parade Seattle, 1908
President Theodore Roosevelt addresses crewmen on Connecticut, upon her return from the Fleet's cruise around the world, 22 February 1909.

The Atlantic Fleet was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, at the same time as the Pacific Fleet, as protection for new bases in the Caribbean acquired as a result of the Spanish–American War. The Fleet was a combination of the North Atlantic Fleet and the South Atlantic Squadron.

The first commander of the fleet was Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, who hoisted his flag in the battleship USS Maine (BB-10) on 1 January 1906. The following year, he took his 16 battleships, now dubbed the Great White Fleet, on a round-the-world cruise that lasted until 1909, a goodwill tour that also served the purpose of advertising the United States' naval strength and reach to all other nations of the globe.

In January 1913 the fleet consisted of six first-line divisions, a torpedo flotilla, submarines, and fleet auxiliaries.[6] The fleet was under the command of Rear Admiral Hugo Osterhaus.

The Cruiser and Transport Force, under Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves served in Atlantic waters during World War I moving the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe. United States Battleship Division Nine joined the Grand Fleet in the UK.

The Atlantic Fleet was reorganized into the Scouting Force in 1923, which was under the United States Fleet along with the Pacific Fleet. In January 1939 the Atlantic Squadron, United States Fleet, was formed.[7] The aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-4) was transferred to the Atlantic Ocean, to join three battleships. Vice Admiral Alfred Wilkinson Johnson commanded the squadron.

On 1 November 1940 the Atlantic Squadron was renamed the Patrol Force. The Patrol Force was organized into type commands: Battleships, Patrol Force; Cruisers, Patrol Force; Destroyers, Patrol Force; and, Train, Patrol Force (the logistics arms).[7]

World War II

On 1 February 1941, the Atlantic Fleet was resurrected and organized from the Patrol Force. Along with the Pacific Fleet and Asiatic Fleet, the fleet was to be under the command of a full admiral, which jumped the fleet's commander Ernest J. King from a two-star to a four-star. King's flagship was USS Texas (BB-35).

Subsequently, the headquarters was in a rather odd assortment of ships; the USS Augusta (CA-31), then the old wooden ship USS Constellation, USS Vixen (PG-53), and then USS Pocono (AGC-16). In 1948, the HQ moved into the former naval hospital at Norfolk, Virginia, and has remained there ever since.

Composition of the Atlantic Fleet in December 1941
USS Vincennes

On 7 December 1941 the Fleet comprised eight separate components:

Battleships, Atlantic Fleet was made up of three Battleship Divisions

Of these, Battleship Division 5 was a training unit consisting of the oldest remaining battleships in service, while Division 6 was responsible for working up the two most recently commissioned battleships, North Carolina and Washington. The other components were Aircraft, Atlantic Fleet, which included Carrier Division Three; Cruisers, Atlantic Fleet (Cruiser Divisions 2, 7 and 8), Patrol Wings, Atlantic Fleet (Patrol Wings 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9); Destroyers, Atlantic Fleet,[8] Submarines Atlantic Fleet; Train, Atlantic Fleet, and Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet (PHIBLANT, COMPHIBLANT).[9] During World War II "Transports, Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet" was part of this command (ComTransPhibLant). Smaller units included the Antisubmarine Development Detachment, Atlantic Fleet (ASDEVLANT) located at Quonset Point, Rhode Island.[10] The detachment was responsible for the study and development of antisubmarine gear during World War II. The Commander of the detachment was known as COMASDEVLANT.

In addition, the aircraft carriers USS Yorktown and USS Long Island were directly attached to Aircraft, Atlantic Fleet, as was the newly commissioned USS Hornet. Admiral King was appointed Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, on 20 December 1941. Rear Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll was designated, with the rank of vice admiral, to relieve him as Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet.[11] He took command on 1 January 1942, and was advanced to the rank of admiral on 1 July 1942. To carry out this mission and other tasks CinCLant had in the meantime been reorganized, as of 1 March 1941, into ten task forces (commanded by flag officers) numbered from one to ten and named according to their intended employment. Task Force One was the Ocean Escort Force, TF2—Striking Force, TF3—Scouting Force, TF4—Support Force, TF5—Submarine Force, TF6—Naval Coastal Frontier Forces, TF7—Bermuda Force, TF8—Patrol Wings, TF9—Service Force, and Task Force 10, 1st Marine Division (commanded by a Brigadier General).

Cold War

On 1 January 1946, Commander Minesweeping Forces, Atlantic Fleet (ComMinLant) was activated to command minesweepers assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. The Commander, Mine Forces, Atlantic was responsible for all Fleet minecraft operations. Units under his command were divided into Minesweeping Squadrons (MineRon)s.

Between 1947 and 1985, the fleet command was a concurrent appointment with the United States Atlantic Command. The Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) was traditionally a navy four-star admiral who also then held the positions of Commander-in-Chief United States Atlantic Command (CINCLANT) and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT). But after a major reorganization of the U.S. armed forces structure following the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, CINCLANFLT was separated from the two other billets. The admiral commanding the Atlantic Fleet was designated as the Deputy Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Command until 1986.

Major crises the Atlantic Fleet was involved in during the Cold War included the 1965 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic[12] and the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.

The general purpose forces of the Army, Navy, and Air Force began to be reorganized in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis on 16 October 1962. The command organization, as finally developed, called for the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (CINCLANT), Admiral Robert Dennison, to provide the unified command. He also retained control of all naval components involved in tactical operations, as the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet. The responsibility for Army and Air Force components was assigned to the Continental Army Command (CONARC) and the Tactical Air Command under the designation of Army Forces, Atlantic (ARLANT), and Air Forces, Atlantic (AFLANT). The commander of the Army XVIII Airborne Corps was designated Joint Task Force Commander to plan for any joint operations that might become necessary. Over-all direction was exercised by the President and the Secretary of Defense through the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who named the Chief of Naval Operations as their representative for the quarantine.[13]

Major elements of the Strategic Army Corps were designated for use by ARLANT and placed in advanced alert status. Logistic support for the more than 100,000 men involved was directed by a newly established Peninsula Base Command. Preparatory steps were taken to make possible the immediate callup of high priority Army National Guard and Army Reserve units. Tactical Air Command moved hundreds of tactical fighter, reconnaissance, and troop carrier aircraft to the southeast. To make room for all these units, the bombers, tankers, and other aircraft not required for the current operations were ordered to other bases in the United States.[13]

From the late 1960s, nuclear ballistic missile submarines of the fleet began to make thousands of deterrent patrols.[14] The first patrol in the Atlantic Fleet area of operations was made by USS George Washington (SSBN-598).[15]

In 1972, Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Force, Atlantic Fleet (Task Force 81) was headquartered at Quonset Point Naval Air Station.[16] Under ASWFORLANTFLT was Hunter-Killer Force, Atlantic Fleet (Task Force 83), with Carrier Divisions 14 and 16 (Wasp and Intrepid, respectively), as well as the Quonset ASW Group (TG 81.2) with Fleet Air Wing 3 and surface units. More information on Anti-Submarine Warfare Force, Atlantic Fleet's, activities during the Cuban crisis can be found at the National Security Archive's document collections.

Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic was formed on 1 July 1975, incorporating a number of previously separate smaller commands – mine warfare vessels/units, service vessels, and frigates, destroyers and cruisers, along with associated destroyer squadrons and cruiser/destroyer groups.

As part of a reorganization announced in July 1995 of the Atlantic Fleet's surface combatant ships into six core battle groups, nine destroyer squadrons, and a new Western Hemisphere Group, USS John Hancock (DD-981) was reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 24. The re-organization was to be phased in over the summer and take effect 31 August 1995, with homeport shifts occurring through 1998. In September 1995 the following ship assignments were intended to apply at the end of the transitional period:[17]

2000s

In February 2000, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command was established in Puerto Rico, and the Western Hemisphere Group became Naval Surface Group 2.

On 1 October 2001, the Chief of Naval Operations designated Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) as concurrent Commander, Fleet Forces Command (CFFC). In October–November 2002, the title of Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet was amended to Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMLANTFLT).

In the CNO Guidance for 2003, Admiral Vernon Clark stipulated that the terms Carrier Battle Group and Amphibious Readiness Group would be replaced by Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs), respectively, by March 2003. Cruiser-Destroyer (CRUDESGRU) and Carrier Groups (CARGRU) were also redesignated, as Carrier Strike Groups (CSG), and aligned directly under the numbered fleet commanders. CARGRU and CRUDESGRU staffs were formerly under the administrative authority of their respective air and surface U.S. Navy type commands. This realignment allowed key operational leaders authority and direct access to the personnel required to more effectively accomplish the navy's mission.

The numbered fleet commanders are now responsible for the training and certification of the entire Strike Group. The organizational structure to support the carrier strike groups focuses more on placing Strike Group commanders under the authority of the certifying officer, or the numbered fleet commander. Under this new division of responsibility, the air-side type commander gains authority over the air wing, and the surface-side type commander gains authority over the carrier itself and the rest of the ships of the battle group.

On 23 May 2006, the Chief of Naval Operations renamed COMLANTFLT to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM or CUSFFC), ordered to carry out the missions currently performed by COMFLTFORCOM (CFFC) and serve as primary advocate for fleet personnel, training, requirements, maintenance, and operational issues, reporting administratively directly to the CNO as an Echelon 2 command. The previous title CFFC was disestablished at the same time.[18] CUSFFC previously served as the Naval component of US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) until the disestablishment of USJFCOM in August 2011. CFFC is also assigned as the supporting service component commander to Commander, United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) as well as to Commander, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).

Enterprise entered an ESRA in 2008, but the refit took longer than expected. Thus on 11 September 2009, it was announced that the carrier strike group deployment schedule would be changed to accommodate the delay in the return of the Enterprise from its current overhaul. This resulted in extending both Carrier Strike Group Eleven's 2009–2010 deployment and Carrier Strike Group Ten's 2010 deployment to eight months.[19] Enterprise returned to Naval Station Norfolk on 19 April 2010 after completing its post-overhaul sea trials, signifying the beginning of its pre-deployment training cycle.[20]

On 24 July 2009, Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr. relieved Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert as Commander.[21]

2010s

News reports in July 2011 said that in connection with the disestablishment of the United States Second Fleet, Fleet Forces Command would take over Second Fleet's duties on 30 September 2011.[22] Effectively this meant Task Force 20 (TF 20), under a deputy commander of the fleet, took over that mission. Task Force 20 was succeeded by Task Force 80 effective 1 October 2012, with TF-80 being under the command of the director of the Maritime Headquarters, Fleet Forces Command.[23]

Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC), United States Naval Observatory (USNO), Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), Naval Oceanography Operations Command, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Center, were all realigned under U.S. Navy Information Dominance Forces on 1 October 2014.

Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015, the Optimized Fleet Response Plan will align carrier strike groups to a 36-month training and deployment cycle. All required maintenance, training, evaluations, plus a single eight-month overseas deployment, are scheduled throughout this 36-month cycle in order to reduce costs while increasing overall fleet readiness. This new plan streamlined the inspection and evaluation process while maintaining a surge capacity for emergency deployments. The ultimate objective is to reduce time at sea while increasing in-port time from 49% to 68%. While initially to be used by U.S. Navy carrier strike groups, the Optimized Fleet Response Plan will be adopted for all fleet operations.[24]

Accordingly, the carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) will be the first carrier to deploy under this new O-FRP cycle, replacing the previously-scheduled Eisenhower in the deployment lineup. Additionally, the Carrier Strike Group Eight command staff will deploy with the Truman while the Eisenhower will serve as the new flagship for Carrier Strike Group Ten.

Organization c.2013
Further information: Structure of the United States Navy

According to the executive summary of the Commander's vision and guidance of October 2012, U.S. Fleet Forces Command is based upon the three tenets of war-fighting, forward operations, and readiness as set forth in the Navigation Plan 2013–2017 guidance from the Chief of Naval Operation.[25][26] To achieve these objectives, Fleet Forces Command was realigned to a Maritime Operations Center (MOC) and Maritime Headquarters (MHQ) command structure. Additionally, the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM) is designated as the Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander North (JFMCC-N) to the U.S. Northern Command.[25] Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander North consists of two Maritime Command Elements (MCE), with Maritime Command Element-East (MCE-E) being Task Force 180 and Maritime Command Element-West (MCE-W) provided from units assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.[25][27]

Effective 17 May 2013, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command was officially designated as the naval component commander for the U.S. Northern Command.[28] In this new capacity, the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command is to contribute to the defense of North America through the coordination, collaboration, and communication with allied, coalition, and joint forces within the U.S. Northern Command's area of responsibility.[28] Under this reorganization, the Commander, Navy Installations Command is responsible for area coordination for U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command.[28] Additionally, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic is responsible for regional coordination for U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command.[28]

Maritime Operations

The Maritime Operations directorate leads all phases of the pre-deployment fleet response training plan (FRTP) cycle involving those naval units assigned to the Fleet Forces Command. The directorate transitions all naval units from their operational phase to their tactical phase prior to their overseas deployment.[25][27]

The Director of Maritime Operations (DMO) is an active-duty two-star rear admiral in the U.S. Navy while the Deputy Director of Maritime Operations is a one-star rear admiral from the United States Naval Reserve.[27] As of 2013, the DMO was Rear Admiral Dan Cloyd. Maritime Operations is organized into the following directorates:[27]

  • N2/39 – Intelligence and Information Warfare
  • N3/N5 – Joint / Fleet Operations
    • N31 – Maritime Operations Center (MOC)
  • N041 – Global Force Management
  • N042 – Force Protection
  • N7 – Joint / Fleet Training

Maritime Headquarters

The Maritime Headquarters (MHQ) leads all phases prior to the pre-deployment training cycle, including resourcing, policy development, assessment, procurement, and pre-introduction of naval units assigned to the Fleet Forces Command. The MHQ transitions all naval units from their strategical phase to their operational phase prior to their pre-deployment training cycle, and in the capacity, it supports the Maritime Operations Center.[25][27] The Director of Maritime Headquarters (DMHQ) is an active-duty two-star rear admiral in the U.S. Navy while the Deputy Director of Maritime Headquarters is a one-star rear admiral from the United States Naval Reserve.[27] As of July 2013, the DMHQ was Rear Admiral Bradley R. Gehrke.[29] The Maritime Headquarters is organized into the following directorates:[27]

  • N1 – Fleet Personnel Development and Allocation (including information architecture management and anti-terrorism/force protection)
  • N41 – Fleet Ordnance and Supply
  • N43 – Fleet Maintenance
  • N45/46 – Fleet Installations and Environment
  • N6 – Fleet Communications and Information Systems
  • N8/N9 – Fleet Capabilities, Requirements, Concepts, and Experimentation (including missile defense)
  • N03FS – Fleet Safety and Occupational Health
  • N03G – Fleet Religious Ministries
  • N03H – Fleet Surgeon and Health Services
  • N03M – Fleet Marine

Subordinate commands

U.S. Fleet Forces Subordinate Commands include the following:[30]

Type commands
Main article: U.S. Navy type commands

All ships are organized into categories by type. Aircraft carriers, aircraft squadrons, and air stations are under the administrative control of the appropriate Commander Naval Air Force. Submarines come under the Commander Submarine Force. All other ships fall under Commander Naval Surface Force. Type commands for Fleet Forces Command include:

Task forces

Functional mission task forces execute force-wide Fleet logistic functions as well as providing capabilities for Joint contingency operations. These functional mission task forces include:[27]

  • Task Force 80 – Maritime Headquarters – Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (MHQ – COMUSFF)
  • Task Force 83[32] – Logistics – Military Sealift Command Atlantic (LOG – MSCLANT)
  • Task Force 84 – Theater Antisubmarine Warfare Commander – Commander Submarine Force (TASC – CSL)
  • Task Force 85 – Mine Warfare – Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center – MIW Division (MIW – SMWDC MIW)
  • Task Force 86 – Defense Support of Civil Authorities – Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (DSCA – COMNECC)
  • Task Force 87 – Reconnaissance – Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Group (RECON – CPRG)[33]
  • Task Force 89 – Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief – Expeditionary Strike Group Two (HADR – ESG 2)
  • Task Force 883 – Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command
    • Task Group 883.1 – Hampton Roads
    • Task Group 883.2 – United States Fourth Fleet
    • Task Group 883.5 – Military Sealift Command Atlantic (MSCLANT)
    • Task Group 883.6 – Submarine Group 10 (SUBGRU 10)
    • Task Group 883.7 – Submarine Group 2 (SUBGRU 2)
    • Task Group 883.8 – Naval aircraft – Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet
    • Task Group 883.9 – Naval Weapons Station Earle

Joint operations task forces

When constituted as a joint-service task force for Joint warfare operations, functional mission task forces for the U.S. Fleet Forces Command are given a 18X designation as shown below.[27]

  • Task Force 180 – Maritime Headquarters – Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander North (MHQ – COMUSFF)
  • Task Force 183 – Logistics – Military Sealift Command Atlantic (LOG – MSCLANT)
  • Task Force 184 – Theater Antisubmarine Warfare Commander – Commander Submarine Force (TASC – COMNAVSUBFOR)
  • Task Force 185 – Mine Warfare – Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center – MIW Division (MIW – SMWDC MIW)
  • Task Force 186 – Defense Support of Civil Authorities – Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (DSCA – COMNECC)
  • Task Force 187 – Reconnaissance – Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Group (RECON – CPRG)[33]
  • Task Force 189 – Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief – Expeditionary Strike Group Two (HADR – ESG 2)

List of commanders
Main article: Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command

Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
1 EvansRobley D. Evans O-8 March 1905 May 1908
2 SperryCharles S. Sperry O-8 May 1908 March 1909
3 SchroederSeaton Schroeder O-8 March 1909 June 1911
4 OsterhausHugo Osterhaus O-8 June 1911 January 1913
5 BadgerCharles J. Badger O-8 January 1913 September 1914
6 FletcherFrank F. Fletcher[34] O-10 September 1914 June 1916
7 MayoHenry T. Mayo O-10 June 1916 June 1919
8 WilsonHenry B. Wilson O-10 June 1919 June 1921
9 JonesHilary P. Jones O-10 June 1921 December 1922
10 KingErnest J. King[35] O-10 1 February 1941 30 December 1941
11 IngersollRoyal E. Ingersoll[36] O-10 30 December 1941 15 November 1944
12 IngramJonas H. Ingram O-10 15 November 1944 26 September 1946
13 MitscherMarc A. Mitscher O-10 26 September 1946 3 February 1947

Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
14 BlandyWilliam H. P. Blandy O-10 3 February 1947 1 February 1950
15 FechtelerWilliam M. Fechteler O-10 1 February 1950 15 August 1951

Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Commander-in-Chief, USLANTCOM and SACLANT
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
16 McCormickLynde D. McCormick O-10 15 August 1951 12 April 1954
17 WrightJerauld Wright O-10 12 April 1954 28 February 1960
18 DennisonRobert L. Dennison O-10 28 February 1960 30 April 1963
19 SmithHarold P. Smith O-10 30 April 1963 30 April 1965
20 MoorerThomas H. Moorer[37] O-10 30 April 1965 17 June 1967
21 HolmesEphraim P. Holmes O-10 17 June 1967 30 September 1970
22 DuncanCharles K. Duncan O-10 30 September 1970 31 October 1972
23 CousinsRalph W. Cousins O-10 31 October 1972 30 May 1975
24 KiddIsaac C. Kidd, Jr. O-10 30 May 1975 30 September 1978
25 TrainHarry D. Train II O-10 30 September 1978 30 September 1982
26 McDonaldWesley L. McDonald O-10 30 September 1982 4 October 1985

Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
27 TrostCarlisle A. H. Trost[38] O-10 4 October 1985 30 June 1986
28 KelsoFrank B. Kelso II[39] O-10 30 June 1986 16 September 1986

Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
28 KelsoFrank B. Kelso II[39] O-10 16 September 1986 4 November 1988
29 CaterPowell F. Carter, Jr. O-10 4 November 1988 31 January 1991
30 MillerPaul David Miller O-10 31 January 1991 13 July 1992
31 MauzHenry H. Mauz, Jr. O-10 13 July 1992 5 October 1994
32 FlanaganWilliam J. Flanagan, Jr. O-10 5 October 1994 20 December 1996
33 ReasonJ. Paul Reason[40] O-10 20 December 1996 17 September 1999
34 ClarkVern Clark O-10 17 September 1999 23 June 2000
35 NatterRobert J. Natter O-10 23 June 2000 1 October 2002

Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Commander, Fleet Forces Command
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
35 NatterRobert J. Natter O-10 1 October 2002 24 October 2002

Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Commander, Fleet Forces Command
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
35 NatterRobert J. Natter O-10 24 October 2002 3 October 2003
36 FallonWilliam J. Fallon O-10 3 October 2003 18 February 2005
37 NathmanJohn B. Nathman O-10 18 February 2005 22 May 2006

Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
37 NathmanJohn B. Nathman O-10 22 May 2006 16 May 2007
38 RougheadGary Roughead O-10 17 May 2007 28 September 2007
39 GreenertJonathan W. Greenert O-10 29 September 2007 23 July 2009
40 HarveyJohn C. Harvey, Jr. O-10 24 July 2009 14 September 2012
41 GortneyWilliam E. Gortney O-10 14 September 2012 December 2014

Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
42 DavidsonPhilip S. Davidson O-10 19 December 2014 4 May 2018
43 GradyChristopher W. Grady O-10 4 May 2018 1 February 2019

Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command and Joint Functional Maritime Component Commander
# Name Rank Picture Start of tenure End of tenure
43 GradyChristopher W. Grady O-10 1 February 2019 Incumbent
gollark: ++exec -L c-gcc```cint main(int apiohazard, char* *apioform) { char *buf = (char*)"hello apiohazards\0\0\0\0"; printf("out: %s", buf); return 0;}```
gollark: It probably won't be because then C people would go "BUT MY 1µs OF PERFORMANCE!".
gollark: ++exec -L c-gcc```cchar[1024] buf;int main(int apiohazard, char* *apioform) {// char *buf = (char*)"APIONODE\0\0\0\0"; printf("out: %s", buf); return 0;}```
gollark: I see.
gollark: ++exec -L c-gcc```cint main(int apiohazard, char* *apioform) { char *buf = (char*)"APIONODE\0\0\0\0"; printf("out: %s", buf); return 0;}```

See also

Comparable organizations

Notes

    References
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    30. Archived 8 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. Accessed 26 September 2012.
    31. "Task Force 83". Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
    32. "Rename and Modify Mission of Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Atlantic and Change Immediate Superior in Command of Patrol Squadron Three Zero" (PDF). Documents. United States Navy. 9 July 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013. DNS-33/12U102106. Formerly known as Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Atlantic.
    33. Fletcher originally assumed office as a rear admiral then was promoted to admiral in 1915 bypassing the rank of vice admiral.
    34. King was promoted to Fleet Admiral on 17 December 1944. He later served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet and as the 9th Chief of Naval Operations.
    35. Ingersoll later served as Commander, Western Sea Frontier.
    36. Moorer later served as the 18th Chief of Naval Operations and as the 7th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    37. Troust later served as the 23rd Chief of Naval Operations.
    38. Kelso later served as the 24th Chief of Naval Operations.
    39. Reason was the first African-American to become a four-star admiral.

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