News of interest maybe, to the Sandy Eggo set:
WASHINGTON ‚Äì Rear Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline Jr., a veteran fighter pilot, has been nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as commander of Naval Air Forces Pacific, which would make him the leader of the Navy’s air warfare community, the Pentagon announced Wednesday. Kilcline, currently director of warfare ntegration on the Navy staff, would replace Vice Adm. James M. Zortman in the San Diego based command, where he has served since August 2004. Zortman’s future assignment has not been announced.
A 1973 Naval Academy graduate, Kilcline has flown a wide range of fighters in fleet squadrons and as an adversary for fighter training. He has commanded Fighter Squadron 154, Carrier Air Wing 14 and Carrier Strike Group Two aboard the Theodore Roosevelt. Under a reorganization initiated by Adm. Vern Clark, the former chief of naval operations, the Pacific air commander acts as the top advocate for naval aviation. Kilcline’s assignment from the Navy staff breaks the pattern of promoting the Atlantic air commander to the senior Pacific job.
The Pentagon also announced the nomination of Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh, commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and of Naval Forces in the Central Command, for promotion to four-star admiral and assignment as vice chief of naval operations, the Navy’s second-highest post. Walsh flew combat missions as a light attack pilot and was a member of the Navy’s elite flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels.
No future assignment has been announced for Adm. Robert F. Willard, the current vice CNO.
All standard. Except- Is Rat out ya think?
B2
Admiral Willard will soon assume the status of a non-person. Best
Oh, I imagine he’ll land on his feet no matter what happens. Sad for him though. Having to retire as a four-star and all.
Still, eventually the Navy breaks your heart.
You think Admiral Williard is out? I don’t, as good as that news would be for the Navy. Look to the two command centers in Hawaii. I’ll bet you a beer he ends up in one of them…..or Northcom.
Be interesting to see what the current CNAL does….and who will replace him.
Hey, as they say in Dixie, “I don’t have a dog in this fight”… but that last sentence in Lex’s post brought me up short. All sun and roses to that point and then bam, ” No future assignment has been announced for Adm. Robert F. Willard, the current vice CNO”. It was chilling to me a total outsider. Where does a viceCNO go for his next assignment? Isn’t it up or out? Best
PS, B2, Rat=Willard…CUTE!!!
Snake- Rat has been his handle since mid-70’s. He was a Topgun when Hornets were just annoying insects…
“Where does a vice CNO go for his next assignment?”
Things have changed Snake. VCNO ain’t a dead end like it used to be.
Teflon Johnson became CNO after VCNO. The last dude- Fox Fallon is now PACOM. Rat may still get a CINC job or vice JCS, but it did sound sort of cold. Maybe HE got tired of all the BS going on..
Sure Skippy, I’m sure he’s made your life difficult (Same billet for how long-Ha) when he was C7F but of course you’ve been there so long YOU should be C7F, himself,…
NOT.
B2
I always wonder when I see announcements like that if the “next assignment has not been announced” line is a subtle hint that the Navy would really prefer that person retire…
Actually I have not been here as long as you think…must have me mixed up with someone else you like to make fun of…….
Still think you will see Willard as at least CPF…………..
Hey B2,
I assume the “Teflon” comment about Johnson was not meant as a compliment. I thought he was no worse than his successor and better than the guy he had to relieve on short notice…..
There is a what if for you. Johnson was VCNO when the CNO comitted suicide. Had that not happened, would he have been CNO?
As Willard’s time in C7F. Well the list of folks he fired is long and distinguished. Thankfully my boss and myself were not among that list. So I count that as a plus………….
Skippy-
IMO, answer is: NOPE. After the “tragedy” Billy C. looked around and said “who should I pick, who do I know?” For 2 reasons:
A- J.J. had been Vice CJTF for Haiti (to Big Para who later became JCS). This operation was considered a success by that administration;
B- Remember that big hurricane bearing down on Norfolk/VA Beach in ‘95 when J.J. took the Fleet out and evaded the monster? Remember his reports to CNN every day? Name recognition. Plus his daughter was runner up as Miss America…
Tis all it takes. The guy went from CAG to 4-star CNO in 3.5 years- impressive. BTW, he didn’t impress me as being anything BUT a conservative (fairly close observation). In the big scheme of things, I think he did his best during that false era.
BTW, Teflon” component comes from TH investigation.
B2