New chief for Pacific Command nominated

Despite talk, job stays in Navy

By James W. Crawley
STAFF WRITER

March 22, 2002

San Diego native Adm. Thomas Fargo has been nominated as the new commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific, the Pentagon said yesterday.

Fargo, a submariner, is now commander in chief of the Navy's Pacific Fleet.

Although a Navy admiral has always been commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, Fargo's selection extinguished recent speculation that the White House might buck tradition and give the regional command to an Army, Air Force or Marine Corps general.

The post is now held by Adm. Dennis Blair, who has been in the position since February 1999.

The Pacific Command, stretching from the West Coast to the Indian Ocean, is the largest in area of the Pentagon's four regional commands. The region also has the world's six largest armed forces – China, the United States, Russia, India, North Korea and South Korea.

The region encompasses about 60 percent of the world's population.

Despite the focus on Afghanistan, which is under Central Command, the Pacific region is considered the linchpin in the nation's military and economic strategy.

"I consider it to be a great privilege to be able to continue to serve my country," Fargo said.

He added that he looks forward to a Senate confirmation. Hearings have not been scheduled.

Fargo, 53, has commanded the Pacific Fleet from his Pearl Harbor headquarters since October 1999. He is in charge of administration, training, personnel and supply for more than 190 ships and submarines, 1,400 aircraft, and 191,000 sailors and Marines from San Diego to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Before that command, Fargo was in charge of Navy plans, policy and operations at the Pentagon. From 1996 to 1998, he commanded the 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, and was responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf and western Indian Ocean.

He commanded the nuclear attack submarine Salt Lake City and commanded Submarine Group 7.

Born here, Fargo was the son of a career Navy officer. He attended high school in Coronado and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970. He graduated 112th in a class of 838 midshipmen.

Fargo's appointment would start a cascade of other transfers, as admirals are shuffled to fill the Pacific Fleet job and other resulting vacancies. Those announcements should be released in coming weeks.

James W. Crawley:
(619) 542-4559; jim.crawley@uniontrib.com

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