The U.S. Navy’s Third Fleet held a change-of- command ceremony Friday aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Vice Adm. Scott Conn took over as the fleet’s commander while the current commander, Vice Adm. John Alexander, retired after 37 years of service in the Navy. Alexander has served as the fleet’s commander since September 2017. He has also served as an executive officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower and the director of maritime operations at U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
Conn has previously served as the director of air warfare in the Pentagon’s Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and the commander of various carrier strike groups, air wings and strike fighter squadrons within the Navy. As Third Fleet commander, Conn will oversee Pacific Naval forces and work with the Seventh Fleet to provide training to sailors throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
The ceremony was held aboard the Roosevelt while it was docked at Naval Air Station North Island. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday served as the presiding officer and guest speaker for the event.
The Third Fleet’s area of responsibility includes fifty million square miles of the eastern and northern Pacific Ocean areas extending into the Arctic.
Updated at 2:20 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27, 2019
— City News Service
