Admiral Scott Swift chooses retirement
The Navy’s Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Scott Swift announced his retirement, and the Navy Times speculates that it was because he was passed over for promotion. Those collisions in the Pacific Rim are causing quite a shakeup among flag officers;
Adm. Scott Swift’s announcement, made in a posting to Pacific Fleet’s website, marks the latest departure for regional and surface force commands in the wake of two fatal destroyer collisions this summer that killed 17 sailors.
Navy officials confirmed last week that Vice Adm. Thomas Rowden, the three-star in command of Naval Surface Force, would put in for early retirement, but declined to offer further details.
Also last week, newly installed 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Phillip Sawyer fired Task Force 70 commander Rear Adm. Charles Williams and Destroyer Squadron 15 head Capt. Jeffrey Bennett.
The destroyers Fitzgerald and John S. McCain, involved in the fatal collisions this summer less than two months apart, were overseen by those two units.
Before that, Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin was fired as head of 7th Fleet just days after the McCain disaster in August.
In Monday’s statement, Swift said the service’s top officer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, had informed him that he would not become the next commander of U.S. Pacific Command.
Category: Navy
He just wants to spend more time with his family.
So what’s the difference between the Pacific Fleet Commander and the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command? Sound the same to me.
Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) is the naval component of Pacific Command (PACOM), which is the joint combatant command headquarters for the Pacific Theater. PACOM controls forces and assets from all four services…
Thank you Combat Historian.
What possible promotion was he being passed over for? He’s already rocking 4 stars.
“The Stars Aren’t Enough” – Dan Rossi
Sounds like he was being passed over for the CINCPAC position. Being the CINC of Pacific Command would have made him the top dog of the largest joint combatant command on earth in terms of geographical size and would have made him the chief warfighter in case the balloon went up against the NorKs. It’s a four-star billet but much more prestigious and visible than being the PACFLT component commander…
They ditched “CINC” several years ago. Now it’s Commander, USPACOM.
How is that mustache in regulations?
Is there a Magnum PI exception?
It’s called the “Flag Rank Exception”.
Naval Aviator exemption
Fully expected Rowden to go….he had the man, train and equip job for the surface fleet….
Dunno, there’s something comforting about seeing a sailor rocking a big ass porn stache.
Harkens back to the old days or something
Hard to tell if this was a guy bailing out when the going got tough or and old fashioned resignation as a honorable way to surrender command that went awry.
Vast majority of 4 star generals & flags only get a single assignment, and then retire after 2 to 3 yrs…basically, join the club ADM Swift. I’m sure Scottie will do VERY well for himself in the private sector.
Article retitled:
“Admiral Swiftly Retires” …