Samuel J . Locklear Admiral Samuel J . " Sam " Locklear III , USN ( born October 28 , 1954 ) is a United States Navy four - star admiral who currently serves as Commander , U . S . Pacific Command . He previously served as Commander , U . S . Naval Forces Europe - U . S . Naval Forces Africa and NATO ' s Commander , Allied Joint Force Command Naples . Prior to that , he served as Director , Navy Staff from July 2009 to October 2010 . He assumed his current assignment on 9 March 2012 . Life and career . He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in 1977 , where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in operations analysis . After receiving his commission as an ensign , he served aboard USS " William V . Pratt " as Main Propulsion Assistant and Missile Fire Control Officer . He was then selected for training and service in the Navy Nuclear Propulsion program , and served as Electrical Principal Assistant in USS " Carl Vinson " . Graduating with " Top Gun " honors from the Surface Warfare Department Head School , he served as Operations Officer and Engineering Officer in USS " Callaghan " , and as Executive Officer in USS " Truxtun " . Subsequently , he commanded USS " Leftwich " and served as Commander , Destroyer Squadron 2 deploying with the USS " Dwight D . Eisenhower " Battle Group . In October 2002 , he assumed command of Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 and Nimitz Strike Group deploying to the Persian Gulf in 2003 in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom . Ashore , Locklear has served as a Company Officer in the Office of the Commandant , United States Naval Academy and later as the 78th Commandant of Midshipmen . In Washington , D . C . , he served as Chief of the Regional Engagement and Presence Joint Warfare Capabilities Assessment Branch in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , as Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations , and as Deputy Director for Requirements in the Assessment Division ( N81D ) . In February 2004 , he returned to the OPNAV Staff as Deputy Director for Surface Warfare ( N76B ) , and in October 2004 , he became the Director of the Assessment Division ( N81 ) . In October 2005 he became the Director of the Programming Division ( N80 ) . From May 2007 to July 2009 , he served as Commander , U . S . 3rd Fleet , and from July 2009 as Director , Navy Staff ( N09B ) . Adm . Locklear is a 1992 graduate of the National Defense Industrial College of the Armed Forces , holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the George Washington University , and attended the Senior Officials in National Security course at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University . His personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal with gold star , Defense Superior Service Medal , Legion of Merit with four gold stars , Bronze Star , Navy Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars , Navy Commendation Medal with gold star , Navy Achievement Medal with gold star , and numerous unit and campaign awards . In March 2011 , he commanded US Navy forces enforcing the Libyan no - fly zone , with overall command going to General Carter Ham . Locklear has called climate change ( global warming ) the biggest worry for the United States . On 9 April 2013 , Jim Inhofe , the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services asked Locklear to clarify his position of climate change as the principal national security threat . Locklear cited USAID government statistics on recent Indo - Asian natural disasters and the long range planning challenges of our security partners and allies in the region .