Brian Fort

Last updated

Brian P. Fort
Brian P. Fort (5).jpg
Born1966 (age 5556)
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1990–2021
Rank Rear Admiral (lower half)
Commands held United States Naval Forces Japan
Navy Region Japan
Navy Region Hawaii
Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific
Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa
Destroyer Squadron 26
USS Gonzalez (DDG-66)
Awards Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)
Order of the Rising Sun
Alma mater University of Arkansas (BS)
Naval War College (MNSS)
Joint Forces Staff College

Brian Patrick Fort (born 1966) [1] is a retired United States Navy rear admiral and surface warfare officer who last served as the 35th commander of the United States Naval Forces Japan and commander of Navy Region Japan from July 10, 2019 to July 14, 2021. As CNFJ/CNRJ, Fort was responsible for providing shore readiness to U.S. naval forces in Japan and maritime support to the American forward presence in Japan as well as cooperation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to promote regional stability and deter aggression. He previously served as commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific from August 2017 to June 2019, with tours as commodore of Destroyer Squadron 26 from June 2013 to June 2015 and commanding officer of USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) from February 2008 to August 2010. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

In March 2021, Carl Lahti, former commandant of Naval District Washington was assigned to succeed Fort as commander of United States Naval Forces Japan and Navy Region Japan. The change of command ceremony took place on July 14, 2021, with Fort retiring from active duty after 32 years of distinguished service. [7] [8]

Early life and education

Cmdr. Brian Fort, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), presents Dolia Gonzalez with a painting of her son, Marine Corps Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez, before turning command of the ship over to Cmdr. Lynn Acheson at Naval Station Norfolk. US Navy 090814-N-2645L-065 Cmdr. Brian Fort, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), presents Dolia Gonzalez with a painting of her son, Marine Corps Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez.jpg
Cmdr. Brian Fort, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), presents Dolia Gonzalez with a painting of her son, Marine Corps Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez, before turning command of the ship over to Cmdr. Lynn Acheson at Naval Station Norfolk.

Raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Fort received his commission via Officer Candidate School in 1990. He earned a master's degree from the Naval War College in National Security and Strategic Studies and is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College. [9] [10]

USS Fitzgerald collision investigation

Fort was selected to lead the U.S. Navy's investigation into the collision of the USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) with a civilian merchant ship in June 2017. The sudden assignment resulted in the cancellation of the planned Navy Region Hawaii change of command ceremony with John V. Fuller, who assumed command forgoing the ceremony. [11] [12]

Awards and decorations

Surface Warfare Officer Insignia.png
Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Legion of Merit ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
U.S. Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 4th award.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg
U.S. Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon.svg NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg
NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5).svg JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 2Class BAR.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg
Navy CaS.png
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Navy Distinguished Service Medal [13] Legion of Merit with three award stars Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two award stars Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four award stars Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation with bronze service star Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze service star
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy "E" Ribbon, 4th award National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze service stars
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star Special Operations Service Ribbon NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
NATO Medal Ribbon (non-Article 5 version) Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class [14] Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Command at Sea insignia
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

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References

  1. Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 186. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  2. "Naval Forces Japan, Navy Region Japan Holds Change of Command". DVIDS.
  3. General, Anna Marie G.; Hawaii, Navy Region. "Command changes for Navy Region Hawaii, Surface Group Middle Pacific". www.cpf.navy.mil.
  4. "A Commodore's Final Words..." www.linkedin.com.
  5. "USS Gonzalez holds Change of Command". DVIDS.
  6. "Destroyer Gonzalez welcomes new CO". Military News.
  7. "Flag Officer Assignments". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  8. "Naval Forces Japan, Navy Region Japan Holds Change of Command". DVIDS. July 14, 2021.
  9. "Rear Admiral Brian Fort". www.navy.mil.
  10. "Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan/Commander, Navy Region Japan". Commander, Navy Installations Command. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  11. "Navy Names Former Destroyer Commander to Lead USS Fitzgerald Collision Investigation". June 23, 2017.
  12. "Rear Adm. Fort becomes Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
  13. "Naval Forces Japan, Navy Region Japan Holds Change of Command [Image 13 of 13]". DVIDS. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  14. Japan Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces [@ModJapan_en] (July 1, 2021). "On July 1, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Matsukawa bestowed the order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan, for his great contribution to the defense of Japan" (Tweet) via Twitter.
Military offices
Preceded by Commanding Officer of USS Gonzalez (DDG-66)
2008-2010
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 26
2013-2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Navy Region Hawaii
2017-2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the United States Naval Forces Japan and Navy Region Japan
2019-2021
Succeeded by