Rear Adm. Richard B. Landolt relieved Rear Adm. Carol M. Pottenger as commanding officer of Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, Task Force 76 and Expeditionary Strike Group 7 on Monday, according to the U.S. Navy.

The ceremony was held on the flight deck of the USS Essex while pierside at White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan, the Navy said.

Pottenger was in command of CTF-76 since November 2006 and led the task force though exercises and operations with numerous nations bordering the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Her next assignment is Commander, Naval Expeditionary Combat Command in Little Creek, Va.

Incoming commander Landolt spent two previous tours in Sasebo, Japan.

Migrated