Destroyer Squadron 7 Changes Command

From COMDESRON 7 Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 held a change of command ceremony at Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific in Singapore, July 14.

Capt. Paul J. Schlise turned over command to Capt. Fred W. Kacher, who had recently served as DESRON 7's deputy commodore since October 2012. Rear Adm. Charlie Williams, commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific, presided over the event.

"As the operational face of our theater security cooperation activities in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 is strengthening relationships and enhancing interoperability in ways that tangibly support America's re-balance to the Asia-Pacific," said Williams. "Much of this success is owed to Capt. Paul Schlise's superb leadership."

The ceremony marked the end of a successful 22-month command tour for Schlise, who previously served as the squadron's deputy commodore for 19 months. During his tenure as commodore, he spearheaded DESRON 7's historic forward deployment to Southeast Asia. He also led Southeast Asia's premier naval exercise series, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), which helps develop regional maritime security capability and capacity, strengthen navy-to-navy relationships and enhance interoperability among the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations. Further, he served as operational commander for USS Freedom's (LCS 1) maiden rotational deployment to Southeast Asia.

As Deputy, Schlise embarked USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), deploying to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf, as well as participating in Operation TOMODACHI relief efforts and serving as sea combat commander for the Ronald Reagan Strike Group in the U.S. Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility.

"It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve at sea with my incredible shipmates, the Golden Arrows of DESRON 7," said Schlise. "I'm particularly proud of the accomplishments this team has achieved since joining the forward-deployed naval forces of Seventh Fleet. While departing command is bittersweet, I couldn't be more pleased to turn over the watch to my friend and shipmate, Fred Kacher. He's exactly the right guy to lead this team as it continues to operate and advance relationships with regional partners in Southeast Asia and undertakes new challenges in this vital region."

Kacher, a native of Oakton, Virginia, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990 with an honors degree in English. A veteran of multiple overseas deployments and sea tours, he commanded USS Stockdale (DDG 106) from 2008 to 2010. Prior to reporting to DESRON 7 as deputy, he served as lead speechwriter and special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School and was selected as a 2006-2007 White House Fellow, where he worked at the White House on issues related to homeland security and counter-terrorism. A winner of the Arleigh Burke Leadership Award and Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Award for Visionary Leadership, he is the author of the book, Newly Commissioned Naval Officer's Guide (U.S. Naval Institute Press, 2009).

"I am honored to take command of DESRON 7," said Kacher. "We have an incredibly talented team and I look forward to building on the legacy of excellence Paul Schlise established leading the first Destroyer Squadron forward deployed to SE Asia in more than 40 years."

COMDESRON 7 is scheduled to complete the 2014 CARAT exercise series in late fall and will take operational control of USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) during her maiden deployment at the end of 2014.