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Bush officially taps Roughead as next CNO

President Bush has formally nominated Adm. Gary Roughead, the current head of Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., to become the next chief of naval operations, the Pentagon announced Thursday. Pentagon sources had hinted at the pick July 27.

“I am honored to be nominated as the 29th chief of naval operations, and I look forward to the confirmation process,” Roughead said in a statement Thursday.

If confirmed by the Senate, Roughead would replace the current CNO, Adm. Mike Mullen, who has been nominated to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Mullen appeared Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee to answer questions before the Senate votes to confirm his appointment.

The current chairman, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, is to step down after his term expires this fall.

Roughead has been in charge of Fleet Forces Command since May, when he relieved retiring Adm. John Nathman. Before that, Roughead was commander of the Pacific Fleet in Hawaii, where he was known for his efforts to improve military relationships across the Pacific, including with China.

Roughead has given the impression that he expects the Navy’s tight budgets and drawdowns to continue; in an interview with Seapower magazine, he said the Navy is going to have to make “hard decisions” about what capabilities it will need in the future.

If senators approve him, Roughead would become the third consecutive surface warfare officer to head the Navy. Roughead has extensive command experience and has worked with Congress, serving as the head of the Navy’s office of legislative affairs. He is a 1973 U.S. Naval Academy graduate and served early in his career as executive officer on two patrol gunboats.

Those familiar with the admiralty say Vice Adm. Jonathan Greenert could earn a fourth star and take over at Fleet Forces. Sources tell Navy Times that Adm. Robert Willard, commander of Pacific Fleet, does not want to leave Hawaii, where he took over for Roughead in May. Due to a number of Navy four-stars heading joint commands, the pool of available four-star admirals is “not very deep,” said one Navy source, who requested anonymity when discussing speculative personnel moves.

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Roughead as CNO