caption serviceyears branch commands birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date nickname rank image article_title name
gortney in january 2015 1977-present united states navy u.s. fleet forces command carrier air wing 7 carrier strike group northern ten u.s. fifth fleet command north american aerospace defense command u.s. la jolla , california , u.s. united states of america defense 2 -rrb- defense superior service medal legion of merit -lrb- distinguished 4 -rrb- service medal navy distinguished service medal -lrb- cold war global war on terrorism 25 september 1955 `` bill '' 25px admiral gortney2014.jpg william e. gortney
 william e. gortney
william e. gortney

william evans `` bill '' gortney -lrb- born september 25 , 1955 -rrb- is a united states navy admiral who currently serves as the sixth commander of u.s. northern command and the 23rd commander of north american aerospace defense command .
he previously served as the commander , u.s. fleet forces command from september 14 , 2012 to december 2014 and director of the joint staff from july 1 , 2010 to august 2012 .
prior to that , he served as commander , u.s. naval forces central command/5th fleet .
he assumed his current assignment on december 5 , 2014 .
