Adm. Scott Swift, right, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, congratulates Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas, commander U.S. Seventh Fleet, during a change-of-command ceremony Monday at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Fleet Theater, Japan. Thomas was relieved by Vice Adm. Joseph P. Aucoin. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy)
Adm. Scott Swift, right, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, congratulates Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas, commander U.S. Seventh Fleet, during a change-of-command ceremony Monday at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Fleet Theater, Japan. Thomas was relieved by Vice Adm. Joseph P. Aucoin. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy)
Vice Adm. Joseph P. Aucoin delivers remarks during a change-of-command ceremony Monday at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Aucoin relieved Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas as commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. (Indra Bosko/U.S. Navy)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Vice Adm. Joseph P. Aucoin assumed command of Seventh Fleet on Monday, relieving Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas.
Aucoin has experience in the region, having previously served as commander of Carrier Air Wing 5, based at Naval Air Station Atsugi.
“I can’t describe how honored I am to be back in Seventh Fleet; this is a storied command,” Aucoin said. “Seventh Fleet is the jewel of our Navy.”
Thomas commanded Seventh Fleet during the Navy’s shift of forces to the Pacific as part of the Obama administration’s rebalancing strategy. He will be assigned as director of Navy staff for the chief of naval operations.
The world’s largest forward-deployed naval force, Seventh Fleet’s area of responsibility encompasses more than 48 million square miles, including 36 maritime countries and the world’s five largest foreign armed forces.
