Vice Adm. William E. Gortney '77 has been nominated by President Obama to become the next commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
Gortney, a three-star admiral, previously was appointed by the president to serve as director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, a position he has held since July 2010. The Navy Times reports that, if approved by the Senate, Gortney will replace Adm. John Harvey, who is retiring, this summer at the headquarters of Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va.
Vice Adm. Peter Daly, chief executive officer of the U.S. Naval Institute and a former Fleet Forces deputy commander, told the Navy Times that Gortney’s wealth of experience, particularly in war zones, made him a prime candidate for the position.
“The commander of Fleet Forces Command, Daly said, has to be someone ‘who understands what it takes to get there, what’s needed and what’s required when they’re at the tip of the spear. And Bill Gortney represents that. He’s an affable guy, but he’s no-nonsense when it comes to the warfighting piece. I think he’s an excellent choice.'”
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