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ARLINGTON, Va. — President Joe Biden has nominated two Navy rear admirals for the rank of vice admiral and as numbered fleet commanders.
In a Jan. 27 announcement, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said that Navy Rear Adm. George M. Wikoff and Rear Adm. Frederick W. Kacher had been nominated for the next rank and as commanders of the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 7th Fleet, respectively. Wikoff also would become commander, Combined Maritime Forces, Manama, Bahrain. Both admirals currently serve in the Joint Staff, Wikoff as vice director and Kacher as vice director of operations.
Wikoff, a native of New Brunswick, New Jersey, is a naval aviator and served as a fighter pilot. He commanded a fighter squadron, a strike fighter fleet replacement squadron, a carrier air wing and a carrier strike group. Kacher, a native of Oakton, Virginia, is a surface warfare officer who served on cruisers and destroyers. He commanded a guided-missile destroyer, a destroyer squadron and an expeditionary strike group.
If confirmed, Wikoff would succeed Vice Adm. Brad Cooper and Kacher would succeed Vice Adm. Karl Thomas.
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