Adm. William E. Gortney '77 became the 32nd commander of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Sept. 14 in Norfolk, Va.
Gortney, a 1977 Elon graduate, relieved Adm. John C. Harvey Jr. as USFF commander in a traditional ceremony aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in Naval Station Norfolk in front of hundreds of distinguished guests, shipmates and crew members. Gortney’s previous stop in a decorated military career was at the Pentagon, where he served as director of the joint staff for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“Here at Fleet Forces Command, our missions are few but they could not be more important to our nation,” Gortney said. “If executed correctly, the overall mission of the command will succeed and most importantly our sailors and civilians deployed or stationed around the globe will succeed.”
Read more about the event and Gortney’s career.
According to the Navy website:
Gortney has served in a variety of command positions afloat and ashore, including as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command; Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Forces Maritime Component Commanders. He also commanded Carrier Strike Group-10, on the Norfolk-based USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.