The Pentagon announced President Biden has made new nominations on Monday for the next commander of Naval Surface Forces, deputy chief of naval operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities and deputy commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
Biden nominated Rear Adm. Brendan McLane to be appointed vice admiral and serve as commander of Naval Surface Forces. Concurrently, he would serve as commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. If confirmed, McLane would succeed Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, who has served in the post since August 2020.
McLane currently serves as commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT), which he has led since March 2021 (Defense Daily, March 8, 2021).
McLane previously led Navy Recruiting Command, commanded Carrier Strike Group 10, was commodore of Destroyer Squadron 50, and commanded Task Force 55 and Coalition Task Force 152 within the 5th Fleet.
Biden also nominated Rear Adm. James Pitts to be appointed as a three star admiral and assigned as deputy chief of naval operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities, N9, within the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). If confirmed, Pitts would follow after Vice Adm. Scott Conn, who has been the N9 since July 2021.
Pitts currently serves as director of warfighting Integration, N9I, within the Office of the CNO. Previously he served as commander of Submarine Squadron Seven; Planning, Programming & Development Branch head of N8 staff; executive assistant to N9; commander of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center and commander of Submarine Group Seven/Commander, Task Force 74/Commander, Task Force 54.
Biden nominated Rear Adm. John Gumbleton to become vice admiral and assigned as deputy commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Gumbleton currently serves as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Budget and director, Fiscal Management Division, N82 within the office of the CNO. He started in that position in May 2020.
Previously, Gumbleton served as director of the Operations Division (FMB1) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller); director of Maritime Headquarters for U.S. Naval Forces Europe/U.S. Naval Forces Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet; and commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3.
If confirmed, Gumbleton will succeed Vice Adm. Jim Kilby, who has been deputy commander of Fleet Force since August 2021.