Joint Staff Director Heading to Unspecified Navy Job
The three-star director of the Joint Staff is heading back to the Navy after a brief time in the position, according to a Pentagon statement.
Vice Adm. Frad Kacher, who previously served as the U.S. 7th Fleet commander in Japan, will now move from the Joint Staff to the Navy, according to a statement from the Joint Staff.
“A distinguished and highly experienced surface warfare leader, Vice Adm. Fred Kacher will return to service with the United States Navy, after most recently serving as the Director of the Joint Staff,” reads a statement from the Pentagon.
In a separate statement, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said, “We are deeply grateful for Vice Adm. Kacher’s dedicated service to the Joint Force and his contributions to the Joint Staff. Since graduating from the United States Naval Academy, Vice Adm. Kacher has answered the call for every kind of selfless service imaginable. The Navy will be glad to have him back and we thank him and them for the loan of his leadership.”
A source familiar with the move told USNI News the removal from the position was not related to policy disagreements including the possibility of military strikes in Iran.
“Returning to [the Navy] is simply about finding the best fit, both for the Joint Staff and the incredibly talented Kacher,” the source said. “The timing is coincidental.”
A Navy spokesperson acknowledged a request for additional information but refered USNI News back to the Joint Staff.
Kacher is a career surface warfare officer He commanded guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG-106) and served as the executive officer of USS Barry (DDG-52). Kacher commanded Destroyer Squadron 7, based in Singapore, and the Japan-based Expeditionary Strike Group 7. He is a 1990 graduate of the Naval Academy. He’s authored several books for the Naval Institute Press and published articles in Proceedings.
