The Fifth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. It has been responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean since 1995 after a 48-year hiatus. It shares a commander and headquarters with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) in Bahrain. Fifth Fleet/NAVCENT is a component command of, and reports to, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
Mark Irby "MRT" Fox is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who served as the Deputy Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM). Prior to assuming his duties at CENTCOM, he served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy (N3/N5), Commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command and Commander, United States Fifth Fleet. He also previously served as the Commander of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, and as Communications Division Chief, American Embassy Annex, Baghdad, Iraq.
Patrick Michael Walsh is a former United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the 59th Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from September 25, 2009 to January 20, 2012. He served as the 35th Vice Chief of Naval Operations from April 5, 2007 to August 13, 2009, and as Commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet from October 2005 to February 27, 2007. He retired from the Navy with over 34 years of service.
United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) is the United States Navy element of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM). Its area of responsibility includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea. It consists of the United States Fifth Fleet and several other subordinate task forces, including Combined Task Force 150, Combined Task Force 158 and others.
John Collins Harvey Jr. is a former United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the 31st Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command from July 24, 2009 to September 14, 2012. He previously served as Director, Navy Staff (N09B) from March 24, 2008 to July 23, 2009. Prior to that, he served as the 54th Chief of Naval Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (N1) from November 2005 to April 2008. He retired from the navy after more than 39 years of service.
Vice Admiral Scott Ray Van Buskirk, is a retired United States Navy officer who was the 56th Chief of Naval Personnel. He served as the CNP from October 2011 to August 2013. He was succeeded by Vice Admiral William F. Moran and retired after 34 years of service. He is one of only two submarine officers to have commanded a carrier strike group.
John W. "Fozzie" Miller is a retired United States Navy Vice Admiral who last served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Manama, Bahrain. Prior to assuming the duties of NAVCENT/C5F, Miller was special assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy (N3/N5) in Washington, D.C. He has also served as NAVCENT deputy commander.
James Franklin "Frank" Caldwell Jr. is an admiral in the United States Navy who currently serves as director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, a job once held by the program's creator, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover. He previously served as Naval Inspector General.
Robert Peter Burke is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the commander of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples from 17 July 2020 to 27 June 2022. He served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 10 June 2019 until 29 May 2020, having previously served as the 58th Chief of Naval Personnel from 27 May 2016 to 23 May 2019.
John Christopher Aquilino is an admiral in the United States Navy, serving as the commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command since April 30, 2021. He previously served as the commander of the United States Pacific Fleet and before that, commander of the United States Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.
Lisa Marie Franchetti is a United States Navy admiral who has served as the 42nd vice chief of naval operations since 2 September 2022, and as acting chief of naval operations (CNO) since 14 August 2023. She is also the nominee to become CNO in her own right in 2023.
Scott Andrew Stearney was an American naval aviator and vice admiral of the United States Navy who served as commander of the Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain.
Andrew Lloyd Lewis is a retired admiral in the United States Navy who last served as the commander of the United States Second Fleet and NATO Joint Force Command for the Atlantic. Lewis previously served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy. He took command of the United States Second Fleet upon its reestablishment on August 24, 2018.
Sean Scott Buck is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy who last served as the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from July 26, 2019 to August 27, 2023.
Ross Allen Myers is an American naval aviator and a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy, who served as deputy commander of the United States Cyber Command from May 2019 to September 2020. He was nominated in March 2020 to be the commander of the United States Tenth Fleet/U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, replacing retiring Vice Admiral Timothy J. White. As a naval aviator, he has commanded several warships and military units, including fleet replacement squadron, Carrier air wing, and air group.
Eugene Henry Black III is a United States Navy vice admiral and career surface warfare officer who serves as the deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy since October 7, 2022. He previously served as the 30th Commander of United States Sixth Fleet, deputy commander of United States Naval Forces Europe, deputy commander of United States Naval Forces Africa, and as the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander from June 2020 to September 2022.
Samuel John Paparo Jr. is a United States Navy four-star admiral serving as the 64th commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, succeeding Admiral John C. Aquilino on May 5, 2021.
George M. Wikoff is a United States Navy rear admiral who served as the vice director of the Joint Staff from 2021 to 2023. He previously served as the special assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans, and Strategy of the U.S. Navy.
