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Flag moves include new CO for 7th Fleet

A career submariner nominated for a third star and appointed as the new commander of 7th Fleet is among several admirals being shifted around the fleet in flag moves announced by the Defense Department.

Rear Adm. John Bird has been nominated for appointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as commander, 7th Fleet, Yokosuka, Japan.

Bird now serves as deputy and chief of staff, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Assigned to take Bird’s place at PacFleet is Rear Adm. Joseph Walsh, who now serves as commander, submarine force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Other nominations and assignments:

* Rear Adm. Harry Harris Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as deputy chief of naval operations for communication networks, N6, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Harris now serves as director for operations, J-3, U.S. Southern Command, Miami.

* Rear Adm. Elizabeth Hight has been nominated for appointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as director, Defense Information Systems Agency; commander, Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations; and deputy commander, U.S. Strategic Command Global Network Operations and Defense, Arlington, Va. Hight now serves as vice commander, Defense Information Systems Agency.

* Rear Adm. John Blake is being assigned as director, Office of Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and comptroller/director, fiscal management division, N82, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Blake now serves as commander, Carrier Strike Group 11.

* Rear Adm. (lower half) William Burke is being assigned as director, Navy Quadrennial Defense Review, N8, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Burke now serves as director, assessment division, N81, Office of Chief of Naval Operations.

* Rear Adm. (lower half) Joseph Campbell is being assigned as fleet maintenance officer, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. Campbell now serves as deputy director, fleet readiness division, N43B, Office of the Chief of Operations.

* Rear Adm. (lower half) Douglas McAneny is being assigned to Walsh’s current post as commander, submarine force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. McAneny now serves as commander, Submarine Group 7/commander, Task Force 54/74, Yokosuka, Japan.

* Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael Connor is being assigned to McAneny’s job as commander, Submarine Group 7, Yokosuka, Japan. Connor now serves as director, operations division, Office of Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and comptroller/director, operations division, fiscal management division, N821, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

* Rear Adm. (lower half) William Shannon is being assigned as program executive officer for strike weapons and unmanned aviation, Patuxent River, Md. Shannon now serves as vice commander, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River.