President Joe Biden has expressed his intent to nominate Adm. Samuel Paparo to lead U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Vice Adm. Stephen “Web” Koehler as the next commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Paparo currently serves as head of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
He was commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces before assuming command of the Pacific Fleet in May 2021.
The U.S. naval aviator served as executive assistant to commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command and to the 31st Chief of Naval Operations and as director of operations, J3, within U.S. Central Command.
Koehler is director for strategy, plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He previously served as commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, director for operations at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, director of fleet training at U.S. Fleet Forces Command and deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.