Navy Adm. Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command since May 2015, will be nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as ambassador in Australia.
In a press release published Friday, the White House describes Harris as a naval officer who has “extensive knowledge, leadership and geo-political expertise in the Indo-Pacific region.”
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1979 as a flight officer for the branch’s Patron Squadron 44 and logged a total of 4.400 flight hours with maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft platforms such as the P-3 Orion.
His command assignments included leadership of VP-46, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo, the U.S. 6th Fleet, Striking and Support Forces NATO and the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Harris also completed three operational tours at Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1 in Japan and served as tactical action officer aboard USS Saratoga, as well as director of operations for the U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain and the U.S. Southern Command.