U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Cathal O’Connor, commander of the Expeditionary Strike Group Three in San Diego, has been assigned as chief of staff at the Joint Staff’s strategic plans and policy directorate/J5 in Washington, D.C.
Navy Secretary Richard Spencer and John Richardson, chief of naval operations, announced O’Connor’s new assignment in a Defense Department release published Tuesday.
O’Connor will oversee the J5 organization that recommends strategies, plans and policy intended to help the Joint Staff chairman provide military advice to the U.S. president and other national leaders on national security matters.
He previously commanded Amphibious Squadron 11/Task Group 76.4 in Sasebo, Japan as well as the USS Rushmore Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship in San Diego, California.
His at-sea assignments have included officer roles onboard USS Farragut, USS Kitty Hawk, USS Pharris, USS Tortuga and USS Truett as well as the Carrier Strike Group 5/Commander Task Force and the Expeditionary Strike Group 7/CTF 76.
O’Connor also held positions within the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, Surface Warfare Officers School, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia, Joint Staff J-8, Navy Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa.
