Rear Adm. Frederic R. Ruehe has been selected as Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, in Norfolk, Va. Ruehe is the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Japan. (Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
Rear Adm. Frederic R. Ruehe, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Japan, has been selected as Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, in Norfolk, Va.
In the new position, announced Monday by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark, Ruehe will support fleet and base operations in command of Navy installations in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.
Rear Adm. James D. Kelly was appointed in April as the next CNFJ. He now commands the USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group and is expected to begin as CNFJ this fall.
Ruehe began service as CNFJ, headquartered at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, in September 2003. Previously, he was commander, Amphibious Group One, headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa.
“As with any change of assignment, this one comes with mixed emotions for me,” Ruehe stated Tuesday in a CNFJ report. “The opportunity to command U.S. Naval Forces Japan — working with the JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force), community leaders, the country team and my own tremendous staff — has been a great honor and a privilege.
“My family and I have also enjoyed the warm hospitality of the people of Japan and we have made many lasting friendships that we will cherish always,” he stated in the report.
Kelly now commands several thousand sailors, most assigned to ships at Yokosuka. His new job will require leading more than 26,000 sailors, families and civilians along with six bases in Japan, Okinawa and Diego Garcia.
