The Navy will get new leaders at two major commands in the Pacific following flag officer nominations by President Barack Obama on Thursday, according to the Department of Defense.

Vice Adm. Cecil E. D. Haney was nominated for appointment to the rank of admiral and for assignment as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, according to a DOD news release. Haney is now serving as deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and will take over fleet command from Adm. Patrick Walsh.

In Japan, Rear Adm. Scott Swift will take the reins of the U.S. 7th Fleet based at Yokosuka Naval Base and be appointed to vice admiral. Swift is currently the director for operations for J3 at the U.S. Pacific Command in Honolulu and will be taking over for Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, who will be the new deputy chief of naval operations for manpower, personnel, training and education in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and Chief of Naval Personnel.

Also on Thursday, the Pentagon announced that Navy 6th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. has been tapped to become assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In addition to commanding 6th Fleet out of Naples, Italy, Harris is also commander of Striking and Support Forces NATO and the Joint Force Maritime Component, Europe, while also holding deputy command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa.

Harris assumed his current command in November 2009. No replacement for Harris at 6th Fleet has been announced, a Navy spokesman said Friday.

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