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Admirals tapped to head 5th, 2nd Fleet

Rear Adm. William Gortney has been nominated to receive a third star and an assignment as commander of the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, according to a Pentagon announcement Tuesday.

President Bush is also nominating Vice Adm. Melvin Williams to head up 2nd Fleet, based in Norfolk, Va.

Gortney, a naval aviator, previously commanded two F/A-18 Hornet squadrons and a carrier air wing. He was commander of Carrier Strike Group 10 in Norfolk from June 2006 through April 19, when he was relieved by Rear Adm. Mark Fox aboard the carrier Harry S. Truman. At 5th Fleet, Gortney will replace Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, and will be dual-hatted as commander of Naval Forces Central Command, or NavCent. A spokeswoman for 5th Fleet said no announcement has been made on where Cosgriff is going next.

Williams, a submariner, is the deputy commander for Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk. He was previously commander of Submarine Group 9 in Bangor, Wash., and also commanded the ballistic-missile submarine Nebraska. At 2nd Fleet, he will replace Vice Adm. Evan Chanik, who is retiring.