An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | May 30, 2018

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Holds Change of Command Ceremony

By U.S. Pacific Command

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii -- Adm. Phil Davidson relieved Adm. Harry Harris as Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), in a ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Wednesday, May 30.

Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis presided over the ceremony. During his remarks Mattis praised Harris’ tenure and highlighted the importance for strong leadership in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.

“PACOM is our primary combatant command, standing watch and intimately engaged with over half of the earth’s surface and its diverse population,” said Mattis. “The United States is today and has been for two centuries a Pacific nation.”

Harris, born in Japan and reared in Tennessee and Florida, is a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and began his tour as the 24th PACOM commander in 2015.

“Men and women of the U.S. Pacific Command, and your families...what you do on a daily basis is of fundamental importance to our nation's defense. I'm proud to serve alongside you,” said Harris.

At a time of increasing contention in the region, Harris conveyed his respect and confidence in his successor to the critical post in the Indo-Pacific.

“Admiral Phil Davidson is well-suited to operate in the complex international milieu that is the Pacific Command in the 21st Century,” said Harris. “He understands completely both his strategic and operational responsibilities. I'm pleased, indeed gratified, that I leave this post in his hands...a battle tested leader whose experiences and expertise span the globe in a multitude of important security and operational assignments.”

Davidson, a native of St. Louis, Mo. and 1982 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, reflected on U.S. Pacific Command’s pivotal role in regional peace and security, and reiterated American commitment to the region and our allies and partners.

“For more than 70 years, the Indo-Pacific has been largely peaceful,” said Davidson. “In most ways, this was made possible by two things: the commitment of free nations to the free and open international order… and the credibility of the combat power within U.S. Pacific Command... To our allies here in the Indo-Pacific, you will have no better ally. To our partners, I look forward to advancing our partnership in a way that serves our mutual interests.”

Davidson, the 25th PACOM commander, takes charge after a successful tour as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Naval Forces U.S. Northern Command in Norfolk, Va.

His previous command assignments include command of Carrier Strike Group 8/Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and USS Taylor (FFG 50).

Ashore, Davidson has served in fleet, interagency and joint tours as a flag officer. He was previously the director, Maritime Operations, U. S. Fleet Forces Command, the senior military advisor to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) at the State Department, and the deputy director for Strategy and Policy in the Joint Staff/J-5.

He served earlier in his career in policy, strategy and operations billets on multiple tours with the U.S. Pacific Fleet staff, the Navy staff and the Joint Staff, and as the Navy’s military aide to the vice president of the United States.

During the ceremony, Mattis announced that PACOM was changing its name as well as its commander.

“In recognition of the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific oceans, today we rename the U.S. Pacific Command to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command,” said Mattis. “Over many decades this command has repeatedly adapted to changing circumstances and today carries that legacy forward as America focuses west.”

USINDOPACOM protects and defends, in concert with other U.S. Government agencies, the territory of the United States, its people, and its interests. With allies and partners, USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression, and, when necessary, fighting to win. This approach is based on partnership, presence, and military readiness.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
Twitter
342,384
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
US Air Force Participates in Civic Action Engagement Alongside Royal Thai Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force during Exercise Cope Tiger 23
Col. Paul Davidson, left, U.S. Air Force exercise director, Col. Maxmillion Goh, center, Royal Singapore Air Force exercise director and Group Capt. Anurruk Romnarak, right, Royal Thailand Air Force exercise director, pose for a photo with students, faculty members, and community leaders during a combined civic action engagement during Exercise Cope Tiger 23 at Nongpednam School, Korat, Kingdom of Thailand, March 23, 2023. The combined civic action engagement provides an opportunity for countries participating in CT 23 to give back to the community surrounding Korat Royal Thai Air Base. CT 23 is an annual exercise meant to improve readiness and the ability of participating forces to operate together while enhancing military relations and combined capabilities.
March 29, 2023 - KORAT, Kingdom of Thailand -- Airmen from the United States, Thailand and Singapore visited a local school as part of a combined civic action engagement during Exercise Cope Tiger 2023.The Airmen took a break from their...

U.S. Naval Ship Matthew Perry Returns to Indo-Pacific Waters After Voyage Repair in India
U.S. Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin inside USNS Matthew Perry which was at L&T shipyard in Kattupalli near Chennai for maintenance and repair work.
March 29, 2023 - CHENNAI, U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India -- USNS Matthew Perry, a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship of the United States Navy, has successfully completed maintenance and repair work at Larsen & Toubro Ltd’s facility in...

Competition With China Drives FY 2024 Budget Request
Ships and aircraft from Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (MKI ARG), with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), operate in formation in the South China Sea. NIMCSG, MKI ARG and 13th MEU, are conducting combined expeditionary strike force (ESF) operations, demonstrating unique high-end war fighting capability, maritime superiority, power projection and readiness. Operations include integrated training designed to advance interoperability between the two groups while simultaneously demonstrating the U.S. commitment to our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. NIMCSG is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
March 29, 2023 - WASHINGTON -- The $842 billion fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Defense Department is driven in large part by strategic competition with China, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said.The budget also focuses, he...

Navy Conducts Revitalization at the Port of Tinian; Extends Life of Port Infrastructure for Region
A U.S. Navy diver from Underwater Construction Team (UCT) Two enters the Port of Tinian for underwater construction repairs in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  Photo by
March 29, 2023 - TINIAN, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands -- Bubbling under the waters at the Port of Tinian, a team of Sailors from Underwater Construction Team (UCT) Two could be seen welding zinc anodes to the north quay wall...

NIMCSG, JMSDF Conduct Bilateral Maritime Exercise
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH 182) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) steam behind the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is conducting a bilateral maritime exercise with the JMSDF in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
March 28, 2023 - PHILIPPINE SEA -- The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) conducted a bilateral maritime exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), March 23-26.USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), and USS...