An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

You have accessed part of a historical collection on defense.gov. Some of the information contained within may be outdated and links may not function. Please contact the DOD Webmaster with any questions.
Immediate Release

Flag Officer Assignments

Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson have announced the following assignments:

Rear Adm. Mark L. Leavitt will be assigned as commander, Naval Safety Center, Norfolk, Virginia.  Leavitt is currently serving as reserve deputy commander for Maritime Operations, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.  

Rear Adm. Matthew A. Zirkle will be assigned as chief of staff, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/U.S. Naval Forces Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, Naples, Italy.  Zirkle is currently serving as director, Navy Reserve Innovation Branch, N095, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.  

Rear Adm. (lower half) Brian K. Corey will be assigned as program executive officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons, Patuxent River, Maryland.  Corey is currently serving as commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division; and assistant commander for test and evaluation, Naval Air Systems Command (AIR-5.0), China Lake, California.  

Rear Adm. (lower half) Marc H. Dalton will be assigned as director, maritime operations (DMOC/N04), U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  Dalton is currently serving as commander, Task Force 70; and commander, Carrier Strike Group 5, Yokosuka, Japan. 

Rear Adm.(lower half) William S. Dillon will be assigned as commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division; and assistant commander for test and evaluation, Naval Air Systems Command (AIR-5.0), China Lake, California.  Dillon is currently serving as commander, Naval Safety Center, Norfolk, Virginia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) John C. Ring will be assigned as commander, Joint Task Force - Guantanamo Bay, U.S. Southern Command, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Ring is currently serving as executive assistant, N98, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.