Rear Adm. Charlie Williams, who was born and raised in Oakton, relieved Rear Adm. Cindy Thebaud as commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC) during a change of command ceremony, July 1. Williams also assumed duties as commander, Task Force 73 (CTF 73) and Navy Region Singapore (NRS) for U.S. forces.
The guest speaker, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Kirk Wagar, praised Thebaud's many accomplishments, including her sustained focus on 7th Fleet logistics and security cooperation activities in South and Southeast Asia - both in direct support of America's rebalance to the Asia Pacific.
A FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet and commodore of Destroyer Squadron 15, Williams assumed command following a tour as deputy, Surface Warfare Combat Systems on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff in Washington D.C.
"Geography matters and, as someone who has already spent many years in this region, I know that COMLOG WESTPAC has a rather unique vantage on the Asia-Pacific, finding itself at the maritime crossroads of South and Southeast Asia," said Williams. "New platforms, including LCS and her rotational deployments, are a key part of our Navy's forward presence and, as more LCS' deploy, these ships will provide increased opportunities for interaction with the region's people, ships and waters in unprecedented ways."
Located in Singapore since 1991, COMLOG WESTPAC is the U.S. 7th Fleet's provider of combat-ready logistics, operating government-owned and contracted ships to keep units throughout 7th Fleet armed, fueled, and fed. Additionally, COMLOG WESTPAC is 7th Fleet's Theater Security Cooperation agent for South and Southeast Asia.
For more news from Commander, Task Force 73, visit www.navy.mil/local/ctf73/.
DESTROYER SQUADRON (DESRON) 7 held a change of command ceremony at Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific in Singapore, July 14.
Capt. Paul J. Schlise turned over command to Capt. Fred W. Kacher, who had served as DESRON 7's deputy commodore since October 2012. Rear Adm. Charlie Williams, commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific, presided over the event.
"As the operational face of our theater security cooperation activities in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 is strengthening relationships and enhancing interoperability in ways that tangibly support America's re-balance to the Asia-Pacific," said Williams. "Much of this success is owed to Capt. Paul Schlise's superb leadership."
Kacher, a native of Oakton, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990 with an honors degree in English. A veteran of multiple overseas deployments and sea tours, he commanded USS Stockdale (DDG 106) from 2008 to 2010. Prior to reporting to DESRON 7 as deputy, he served as lead speechwriter and special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School and was selected as a 2006-2007 White House Fellow, where he worked at the White House on issues related to homeland security and counter-terrorism. A winner of the Arleigh Burke Leadership Award and Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Award for Visionary Leadership, he is the author of the book, Newly Commissioned Naval Officer's Guide (U.S. Naval Institute Press, 2009).
"I am honored to take command of DESRON 7," said Kacher. "We have an incredibly talented team and I look forward to building on the legacy of excellence Paul Schlise established leading the first Destroyer Squadron forward deployed to SE Asia in more than 40 years."