Burke Leads List as Navy Resumes Flag Officer Announcements

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Robert Burke at an event in New York City in September. Burke is set for reappointment to admiral and assignment as commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa, among other duties. Vice Adm. William K. Lescher has been tapped to rise to admiral and as Burke’s successor as VCNO. U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sarah Villegas

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department has announced some Navy flag officer nominations, resuming a practice that had been suspended for about a year for cybersecurity reasons.

Such lists of names are routinely provided to Congress, but their public announcement had been suspended by previous Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson. A reversion to a previous policy was made evident May 6 when Defense Secretary Mark Esper made some announcements of senior Navy officer reassignments.

Current CNO Adm. Mike Gilday reportedly made the decision to resume announcements is response to a query from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass). The Marine Corps had been making at least some announcements in the interim.

These Navy officers have been nominated to their respective positions:

Adm. Robert P. Burke for reappointment to the rank of admiral and assignment as commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa; and commander, Allied Joint Forces Command, Naples, Italy. Burke serves as vice chief of naval operations, directly under Gilday.
Vice Adm. William K. Lescher for appointment to the rank of admiral and assignment as the new vice CNO, succeeding Burke. Lescher is serving as deputy chief of naval operations for integration of capabilities and resources (N8), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.
Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti for reappointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting development, N7, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Franchetti is commander of the 6th Fleet. She is also commander, Task Force 6; Striking and Support Forces NATO, deputy commander; U.S. Naval Forces Europe, deputy commander; U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and Joint Force Maritime Component commander Europe, Naples, Italy.
Rear Adm. Eugene H. Black III for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as commander, 6th Fleet; commander, Task Force 6; commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO; deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa; and Joint Force Maritime Component commander Europe, Naples, Italy. Black is serving as director, Surface Warfare Division, N96, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.
Rear Adm. Randy B. Crites for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as deputy chief of naval operations for integration of capabilities and resources (N8), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Crites is serving as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for budget (FMB), and director, Fiscal Management Division (N82), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.
Rear Adm. Yancy B. Lindsey for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as commander, Navy Installations Command, Washington, D.C. Lindsey is serving as commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia; and commander, Maritime Air Forces, Naples, Italy.
Rear Adm. Kenneth R. Whitesell for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as commander, Naval Air Forces; and commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego. Whitesell is serving as deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Reserve Rear Adm. John B. Mustin for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as chief of Navy Reserve, Washington, D.C. Mustin is serving as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2, Norfolk, Virginia.
Rear Adm. (lower half) Stephen D. Barnett is serving as commander, Navy Region Northwest, Silverdale, Washington. Barnett previously served as deputy commander, Navy Installations Command, Washington, D.C.
Rear Adm. (lower half) Christopher S. Gray will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central; and as commander, Maritime Air Forces, Naples, Italy. Gray previously served as commander, Navy Region Northwest, Silverdale.
Rear Adm. (lower half) John E. Gumbleton is serving as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for budget (FMB); and director, Fiscal Management Division, N82, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Gumbleton previously served as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3, San Diego.
Rear Adm. (lower half) Brendan R. McLane will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group 10, Norfolk. McLane previously served as commander, Navy Recruiting Command, Millington, Tennessee.
Rear Adm. (lower half) Paul J. Schlise will be assigned as director, Surface Warfare Division, N96, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Schlise is serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group 10, Norfolk.
Rear Adm. (lower half) Philip E. Sobeck is serving as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3, San Diego. Sobeck previously served as director, 21st Century Sailor Office, N17, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Arlington, Virginia.
Rear Adm. (lower half) Dennis Velez is serving as commander, Navy Recruiting Command, Millington. Velez previously served as senior military assistant, Office of the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C.
Capt. Putnam H. Browne, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), is serving as director, 21st Century Sailor Office, N17, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Arlington. Browne previously served as executive assistant to the assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs, Washington, D.C.

These Marine officers have been nominated to their respective positions:

Lt. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as commanding general, Training and Education Command. Craparotta is serving as the commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and commanding general, Fleet Marine Corps Forces Pacific, at Camp Smith, Hawaii.
Lt. Gen. Steven R. Rudder, for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific and commanding general, Fleet Marine Corps Forces Pacific. Rudder is serving as the deputy commandant for aviation, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.
Maj. Gen. Dennis A. Crall, for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as director for command, control, communications and computers (C4)/cyber; and chief information officer, J-6, Joint Staff. Crall is serving as the senior military adviser for cyber to the undersecretary of defense for policy, Washington, D.C.
Maj. Gen. Karsten S. Heckl, for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as commanding general, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Heckl is serving as the commanding general, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Maj. Gen. David A. Ottignon, for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs. Ottignon is serving as the director, Manpower Management Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia.
Maj. Gen. Mark R. Wise, for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as deputy commandant for aviation, U.S. Marine Corps. Wise is serving as the deputy commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, and as assistant deputy commandant for combat development and integration, Quantico.
Col. Adam L. Chalkley for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Chalkley is serving as the chief of staff, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Col. Kyle B. Ellison for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Ellison is serving as the director, Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Col. Phillip N. Frietze for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Frietze is serving as the deputy director, Capabilities Development Directorate, Department of Combat Development and Integration, Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Col. Peter D. Huntley for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Huntley is serving as the deputy commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Col. Julie L. Nethercot for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Nethercot is serving as the director, Commander’s Action Group, U.S. Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Col. Forrest C. Poole III for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Poole is serving as the executive assistant to the deputy commandant, installations and logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.
Col. Ryan S. Rideout for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Rideout is serving as the chief of staff, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, Norfolk.