On Dec. 7, 2020, Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller announced that Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT), has been appointed commander of the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) upon the nomination of President Donald Trump.
Adm. Phil Davidson, the first commander of Indo-Pacific Command (formerly PACOM), is retiring.
The Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) is the largest combatant command of the U.S. military and an important military legacy of Trump in his first term: extending the responsibilities of the former Pacific Command (PACOM) to the Indian Ocean, expanding the area of jurisdiction from the U.S. West Coast to the entire Indian Ocean, north and south to the North and South Poles, covering 51 percent of the Earth’s surface area.
Admiral Phil Davidson, the first commander, has stated, “Four of the five major threats to the United States in the U.S. defense strategy are in the jurisdiction of Indo-Pacific Command.”
Biography of Admiral John Aquilino.
Born in Huntington, New York in 1962, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in physics. Subsequently participated in flight training and graduated from the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), earning his pilot’s wing badge in August 1986.
He served in the 142nd Shipboard Fighter Squadron (VF-142 “Ghost Rider”), the 41st Shipboard Fighter Squadron (VF-41 “Ace of Spades”), the 11th Shipboard Fighter Squadron (VF-11 ” Red Ripper”), flying the F-14A/B Tomcat and F/A-18C/E/F Hornet/Super Hornet. “The aircraft carrier is the Enterprise. The carrier-based platforms were USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Roosevelt (CVN-71) and USS Forrestal (CVA-59).
John Aquilino served as squadron commander of the 43rd Shipboard Fighter Squadron (VF-43 Challenger) as
As a simulated Red pilot, he flew the A-4, F-5N and F-16N.
John Aquilino served as commander of Carrier Wing 2 (CVW-2) and Carrier Strike Group 2 (CSG-2), flying the carrier platform USS Bush (CVN-77).
He then served as the Operations Officer for the Atlantic Strike Weapons and Tactics School, Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Weapons Systems and Advanced Development, Director of Training for Fleet Air Command Atlantic, and Executive Assistant to Fleet Forces Command.
He also served as Director of Strategy and Policy, U.S. Joint Command; Deputy Director of Operations Coordination, Joint Staff; Joint Chief of Staff, Maritime Operations, Pacific Fleet; Under Secretary of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command; and Commander, 5th Fleet (based in Bahrain).
Admiral John Aquilino assumed command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet on May 17, 2018.
Operational experience: overseas military operations including Denial of Flight, Deliberate Force, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
Flight time: 5,100 hours; shipboard aircraft intercept landings: 1,150.
Awards: Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit Medal (5), Bronze Star Medal (2); Army Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global Counterterrorism Campaign Expeditionary Medal, Global Counterterrorism Service Medal, Army Service Medal, NATO Medal.
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