NAVAL AIR FACILITY MISAWA, Japan — U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson is to take command of Patrol and Reconnaissance 5th/7th Fleet from Rear Adm. Kenneth W. Deutsch during a change-of-command ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Hangar 971.

Deutsch, who has been at the reins for two years, was to lead Patrol and Reconnaissance Group in Norfolk, Va., but Navy officials at Misawa last week said the Chief of Naval Operations hand-picked Deutsch to serve on his staff in the Pentagon.

Johnson is reporting to Misawa from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, where he was the U.S. Pacific Command representative, Guam/Commander, U.S. Naval Base Guam.

As commander of Patrol and Reconnaissance 5th/7th Fleet, Johnson will oversee P-3 antisubmarine and maritime surveillance aircraft squadrons in the Pacific, Asia and Middle East. He’ll also command Fleet Air Western Pacific, headquartered at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan.

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