About this Unit
**COMNAVSURFPAC** (Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet) was established on 1 March 1975 to serve as the principal command responsible for the readiness, training, and equipping of all surface warfare ships in the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The command traces its heritage to earlier Pacific Fleet surface ship commands during World War II, evolving to consolidate destroyers, cruisers, amphibious, and other surface vessels under a single administrative and operational authority. Headquartered at Naval Base San Diego, COMNAVSURFPAC oversees a diverse fleet, including guided-missile destroyers, cruisers, littoral combat ships, and amphibious assault ships. The command plays a vital role in ensuring U.S. naval superiority and freedom of navigation in the Pacific region, supporting global operations and regional security.
Historical Facts
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Establishment: Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFPAC) was established in March 1975 to unify command and control over surface ships in the Pacific Fleet.
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Headquarters: COMNAVSURFPAC is headquartered at Naval Base San Diego, California, overseeing more than 70 ships and 30,000 personnel.
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Vietnam War Legacy: The roots of COMNAVSURFPAC trace back to the cruisers and destroyers that played a major role in naval gunfire support and coastal patrols during the Vietnam War.
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Size and Scope: It is the largest type command in the U.S. Navy, responsible for all surface ships in the Pacific Fleet, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers, littoral combat ships, and amphibious ships.
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Operation Desert Storm: During the Gulf War in 1991, COMNAVSURFPAC units participated in Tomahawk missile strikes and sea control operations in the Persian Gulf.
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First Female Commander: In 2020, Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener assumed command, but the unit made history in 2022 when Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids became the first woman to serve as a surface group commander under COMNAVSURFPAC.
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Innovations: COMNAVSURFPAC led the integration of new technologies, such as the Aegis Combat System and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), into surface warfare.
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Humanitarian Missions: Ships under COMNAVSURFPAC frequently participate in humanitarian missions, including tsunami relief in Southeast Asia (2004) and earthquake relief in Japan (2011).
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Partnerships: COMNAVSURFPAC regularly conducts joint exercises with allied navies, such as RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise), the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise.
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Motto and Ethos: The command’s motto, “Ready, Relevant, and Sustainable,” reflects its emphasis on combat readiness, modernization, and support for the Navy’s evolving missions in the Indo-Pacific region.
