Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced three more presidential naval flag officer nominations on Friday.
Vice Adm. John Aquilino was reappointed as vice admiral and assigned commander of United States Naval Forces Central Command and commander of Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. He currently serves as deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans, and strategy, N3/N5 in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).
Aquilano is set to succeed Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan, who was appointed director of Navy Staff N09B at the Office of the CNO last month (Defense Daily, June 8).
Mattis also named Rear Adm. John Alexander for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment of commander of the Third Fleet based in San Diego, Calif. Alexander currently serves as director of joint fleet operations, N3/N5 at U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va. The current commander of U.S. Third Fleet is Vice Adm. Nora Tyson, appointed to the role in 2015.
The final appointment is Rear Adm. William Merz as vice admiral and assigned as deputy chief of naval operations for warfare systems, N9, in the Office of the CNO. Merz currently serves as director of the Undersea Warfare Division, N97, at the Office of the CNO.