# Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet

The Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), is the title of the United States Navy officer who commands the United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT). Originally established in 1907 as a two-star rear admiral's billet, the position has been held by a four-star admiral since March 19, 1915.
As of April 4, 2024, Admiral Stephen Koehler is the 65th and current Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

## History

The position has been known by several titles since its inception.
* 1907 to December 6, 1922: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT)
* December 6, 1922 to April 1, 1931: Commander-in-Chief, Battle Fleet (CINCBATFLT)
* April 1, 1931 to February 1, 1941: Commander, Battle Force, United States Fleet (COMBATFOR)
* February 1, 1941 to October 24, 2002: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT)
* October 24, 2002 to present: Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT)

## List of commanders

| No. | Commander | Commander | Term | Term | Term |
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length |
| Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) ||||||
| 1 | | Swinburne, William T.Rear Admiral William T. Swinburne (1847–1928) | July 22, 1907 | May 17, 1909 | 1 year, 299 days |
| 2 | | Sebree, UrielRear Admiral Uriel Sebree (1848–1922) | May 17, 1909 | February 19, 1910 | 278 days |
| 3 | | Harber, Giles B.Rear Admiral Giles B. Harber (1849–1925) | February 19, 1910 | November 1, 1910 | 255 days |
| - | | Barry, Edward ButtevantRear Admiral Edward B. Barry (1849–1938) | November 1, 1910 | January 15, 1911 | 75 days |
| - | | Thomas, Chauncey Jr.Rear Admiral Chauncey Thomas Jr. (1850–1919) | January 15, 1911 | 1912 | ~351 days |
| 4 | | Southerland, William Henry HudsonRear Admiral William H. H. Southerland (1852–1933) | 1912 | March 1913 | ~1 year, 59 days |
| 5 | | Cowles, Walter ClevelandRear Admiral Walter C. Cowles (1853–1917) | March 1913 | January 1914 | ~306 days |
| 6 | | Howard, Thomas BentonAdmiral Thomas B. Howard (1854–1920) | January 1914 | September 13, 1915 | ~1 year, 255 days |
| 7 | | Winslow, Cameron McRaeAdmiral Cameron M. Winslow (1854–1932) | September 13, 1915 | July 29, 1916 | 320 days |
| 8 | | Caperton, William BanksAdmiral William B. Caperton (1855–1941) | July 29, 1916 | April 30, 1919 | 2 years, 275 days |
| 9 | | Rodman, HughAdmiral Hugh Rodman (1859–1940) | July 1, 1919 | July 5, 1921 | 2 years, 4 days |
| 10 | | Eberle, Edward WalterAdmiral Edward W. Eberle (1864–1929) | July 5, 1921 | December 6, 1922 | 1 year, 154 days |
| Commander-in-Chief, Battle Fleet (CINCBATFLT) ||||||
| 10 | | Eberle, Edward WalterAdmiral Edward W. Eberle (1864–1929) | December 6, 1922 | June 30, 1923 | 206 days |
| 11 | | Robison, Samuel ShelburneAdmiral Samuel S. Robison (1867–1952) | June 30, 1923 | October 14, 1925 | 2 years, 106 days |
| 12 | | Hughes, Charles FrederickAdmiral Charles F. Hughes (1866–1934) | October 14, 1925 | September 4, 1926 | 325 days |
| 13 | | Jackson, Richard HarrisonAdmiral Richard H. Jackson (1866–1971) | September 4, 1926 | September 10, 1927 | 1 year, 6 days |
| 14 | | de Steiguer, Louis RodolphAdmiral Louis R. de Steiguer (1867–1947) | September 10, 1927 | May 21, 1929 | 290 days |
| 15 | | Pratt, William VeazieAdmiral William V. Pratt (1869–1957) | June 26, 1928 | May 21, 1929 | 329 days |
| 16 | | Nulton, Louis McCoyAdmiral Louis M. Nulton (1869–1954) | May 21, 1929 | May 24, 1930 | 1 year, 3 days |
| 17 | | Schofield, Frank HermanAdmiral Frank H. Schofield (1869–1942) | May 24, 1930 | April 1, 1931 | 312 days |
| Commander, Battle Force, United States Fleet (COMBATFOR) ||||||
| 17 | | Schofield, Frank HermanAdmiral Frank H. Schofield (1869–1942) | April 1, 1931 | September 15, 1931 | 167 days |
| 18 | | Leigh, Richard HenryAdmiral Richard H. Leigh (1870–1946) | September 15, 1931 | August 11, 1932 | 331 days |
| 19 | | McNamee, LukeAdmiral Luke McNamee (1871–1952) | August 11, 1932 | May 20, 1933 | 282 days |
| 20 | | Standley, William HarrisonAdmiral William H. Standley (1872–1963) | May 20, 1933 | July 1, 1933 | 42 days |
| 21 | | Reeves, Joseph MasonAdmiral Joseph M. Reeves (1872–1948) | July 1, 1933 | April 1, 1935 | 349 days |
| 22 | | Brumby, Frank HardemanAdmiral Frank H. Brumby (1874–1950) | June 15, 1934 | April 1, 1935 | 290 days |
| 23 | | Laning, HarrisAdmiral Harris Laning (1873–1941) | April 1, 1935 | March 30, 1936 | 364 days |
| 24 | | Leahy, William DanielAdmiral William D. Leahy (1875–1959) | March 30, 1936 | December 31, 1936 | 276 days |
| 25 | | Bloch, Claude CharlesAdmiral Claude C. Bloch (1878–1967) | December 31, 1936 | January 29, 1938 | 1 year, 29 days |
| 26 | | Kalbfus, Edward CliffordAdmiral Edward C. Kalbfus (1877–1954) | January 29, 1938 | June 24, 1939 | 1 year, 146 days |
| 27 | | Richardson, James OttoAdmiral James O. Richardson (1878–1974) | June 24, 1939 | February 1, 1941 | 1 year, 222 days |
| Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) ||||||
| 28 | | Kimmel, Husband EdwardAdmiral Husband E. Kimmel (1882–1968) | February 1, 1941 | December 17, 1941 | 319 days |
| - | | Pye, William SatterleeVice Admiral William S. Pye (1880–1959) Acting | December 17, 1941 | December 31, 1941 | 14 days |
| 29 | | Nimitz, Chester WilliamFleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (1885–1966) | December 31, 1941 | November 24, 1945 | 3 years, 328 days |
| 30 | | Spruance, Raymond AmesAdmiral Raymond A. Spruance (1886–1969) | November 24, 1945 | February 1, 1946 | 69 days |
| 31 | | Towers, John HenryAdmiral John H. Towers (1885–1955) | February 1, 1946 | February 28, 1947 | 1 year, 27 days |
| 32 | | Denfeld, Louis EmilAdmiral Louis E. Denfeld (1891–1972) | February 28, 1947 | December 3, 1947 | 278 days |
| 33 | | Ramsey, DeWitt ClintonAdmiral DeWitt C. Ramsey (1888–1961) | December 3, 1947 | April 30, 1949 | 1 year, 148 days |
| 34 | | Radford, Arthur WilliamAdmiral Arthur W. Radford (1896–1973) | April 30, 1949 | July 10, 1953 | 4 years, 71 days |
| 35 | | Stump, Felix BudwellAdmiral Felix B. Stump (1894–1972) | July 10, 1953 | January 14, 1958 | 4 years, 188 days |
| 36 | | Curts, Maurice EdwinAdmiral Maurice E. Curts (1898–1976) | January 14, 1958 | February 1, 1958 | 18 days |
| 37 | | Hopwood, Herbert GladstoneAdmiral Herbert G. Hopwood (1898–1966) | February 1, 1958 | August 30, 1960 | 2 years, 211 days |
| 38 | | Sides, John HaroldAdmiral John H. Sides (1904–1978) | August 30, 1960 | September 30, 1963 | 3 years, 31 days |
| 39 | | Sharp, Ulysses S. Grant Jr.Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp Jr. (1906–2001) | September 30, 1963 | June 26, 1964 | 270 days |
| 40 | | Moorer, Thomas HinmanAdmiral Thomas H. Moorer (1912–2004) | June 26, 1964 | March 30, 1965 | 277 days |
| 41 | | Johnson, Roy LeeAdmiral Roy L. Johnson (1906–1999) | March 30, 1965 | November 30, 1967 | 2 years, 245 days |
| 42 | | Hyland, John Joseph Jr.Admiral John J. Hyland Jr. (1912–1998) | November 30, 1967 | December 5, 1970 | 3 years, 5 days |
| 43 | | Clarey, Bernard AmbroseAdmiral Bernard A. Clarey (1912–1996) | December 5, 1970 | September 30, 1973 | 2 years, 299 days |
| 44 | | Weisner, Maurice FranklinAdmiral Maurice F. Weisner (1917–2006) | September 30, 1973 | August 12, 1976 | 2 years, 317 days |
| 45 | | Hayward, Thomas BibbAdmiral Thomas B. Hayward (1924–2022) | August 12, 1976 | May 9, 1978 | 1 year, 270 days |
| 46 | | Davis, Donald CookeAdmiral Donald C. Davis (1921–1998) | May 9, 1978 | July 31, 1981 | 3 years, 83 days |
| 47 | | Watkins, James DavidAdmiral James D. Watkins (1927–2012) | July 31, 1981 | May 28, 1982 | 301 days |
| 48 | | Foley, Sylvester Robert Jr.Admiral Sylvester R. Foley Jr. (1928–2019) | May 28, 1982 | September 16, 1985 | 3 years, 111 days |
| 49 | | Lyons, James Aloysius Jr.Admiral James A. Lyons Jr. (1927–2018) | September 16, 1985 | September 30, 1987 | 2 years, 14 days |
| 50 | | Jeremiah, David ElmerAdmiral David E. Jeremiah (1934–2013) | September 30, 1987 | February 15, 1990 | 2 years, 138 days |
| 51 | | Larson, Charles RobertAdmiral Charles R. Larson (1936–2014) | February 15, 1990 | February 15, 1991 | 1 year, 0 days |
| 52 | | Kelly, Robert JosephAdmiral Robert J. Kelly (born 1938) | February 15, 1991 | August 6, 1994 | 3 years, 172 days |
| 53 | | Zlatoper, Ronald JosephAdmiral Ronald J. Zlatoper (1942–2022) | August 6, 1994 | November 7, 1996 | 2 years, 93 days |
| 54 | | Clemins, Archie RayAdmiral Archie Clemins (1943–2020) | November 7, 1996 | October 8, 1999 | 2 years, 335 days |
| 55 | | Fargo, Thomas BoultonAdmiral Thomas B. Fargo (born 1948) | October 8, 1999 | May 4, 2002 | 2 years, 208 days |
| 56 | | Doran, Walter FrancisAdmiral Walter F. Doran (born 1945) | May 4, 2002 | October 24, 2002 | 173 days |
| Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) ||||||
| 56 | | Doran, Walter FrancisAdmiral Walter F. Doran (born 1945) | October 24, 2002 | July 8, 2005 | 2 years, 257 days |
| 57 | | Roughead, GaryAdmiral Gary Roughead (born 1951) | July 8, 2005 | May 8, 2007 | 1 year, 304 days |
| 58 | | Willard, Robert FrederickAdmiral Robert F. Willard (born 1950) | May 8, 2007 | September 25, 2009 | 2 years, 140 days |
| 59 | | Walsh, Patrick MichaelAdmiral Patrick M. Walsh (born 1955) | September 25, 2009 | January 20, 2012 | 2 years, 117 days |
| 60 | | Haney, Cecil Eugene DiggsAdmiral Cecil D. Haney (born 1955) | January 20, 2012 | October 16, 2013 | 1 year, 269 days |
| 61 | | Harris, Harry Binkley Jr.Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. (born 1956) | October 16, 2013 | May 27, 2015 | 1 year, 223 days |
| 62 | | Swift, Scott HarbisonAdmiral Scott H. Swift (born 1957) | May 27, 2015 | May 17, 2018 | 2 years, 355 days |
| 63 | | Aquilino, John ChristopherAdmiral John C. Aquilino (born 1962) | May 17, 2018 | April 30, 2021 | 2 years, 348 days |
| - | | Koehler, Stephen ThomasRear Admiral Stephen T. Koehler (born 1964) Acting | April 30, 2021 | May 5, 2021 | 5 days |
| 64 | | Paparo, Samuel John Jr.Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr. (born 1964) | May 5, 2021 | April 4, 2024 | 2 years, 335 days |
| 65 | | Koehler, StephenAdmiral Stephen T. Koehler (born 1964) | April 4, 2024 | Incumbent | 187 days |

## In popular culture

In the movie, Top Gun: Maverick, Val Kilmer plays Adm. Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.