Brian Fort

Brian Patrick Fort (born 1966)[1] is a retired United States Navy rear admiral and surface warfare officer who last served as the 35th commander of the United States Naval Forces Japan and commander of Navy Region Japan from July 10, 2019 to July 14, 2021. As CNFJ/CNRJ, Fort was responsible for providing shore readiness to U.S. naval forces in Japan and maritime support to the American forward presence in Japan as well as cooperation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to promote regional stability and deter aggression. He previously served as commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific from August 2017 to June 2019, with tours as commodore of Destroyer Squadron 26 from June 2013 to June 2015 and commanding officer of USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) from February 2008 to August 2010.[2][3][4][5][6]

Brian P. Fort
Born1966 (age 56–57)
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1990–2021
RankRear Admiral (lower half)
Commands heldUnited States Naval Forces Japan
Navy Region Japan
Navy Region Hawaii
Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific
Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa
Destroyer Squadron 26
USS Gonzalez (DDG-66)
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)
Order of the Rising Sun
Alma materUniversity of Arkansas (BS)
Naval War College (MNSS)
Joint Forces Staff College

In March 2021, Carl Lahti, former commandant of Naval District Washington was assigned to succeed Fort as commander of United States Naval Forces Japan and Navy Region Japan. The change of command ceremony took place on July 14, 2021, with Fort retiring from active duty after 32 years of distinguished service.[7][8]

Early life and education
Cmdr. Brian Fort, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), presents Dolia Gonzalez with a painting of her son, Marine Corps Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez, before turning command of the ship over to Cmdr. Lynn Acheson at Naval Station Norfolk.

Raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Fort received his commission via Officer Candidate School in 1990. He earned a master's degree from the Naval War College in National Security and Strategic Studies and is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College.[9][10]

USS Fitzgerald collision investigation

Fort was selected to lead the U.S. Navy's investigation into the collision of the USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) with a civilian merchant ship in June 2017. The sudden assignment resulted in the cancellation of the planned Navy Region Hawaii change of command ceremony with John V. Fuller, who assumed command forgoing the ceremony.[11][12]

Awards and decorations
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Navy Distinguished Service Medal[13] Legion of Merit with three award stars Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two award stars Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four award stars Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation with bronze service star Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze service star
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy "E" Ribbon, 4th award National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze service stars
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star Special Operations Service Ribbon NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
NATO Medal Ribbon (non-Article 5 version) Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class[14] Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Command at Sea insignia
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

References
  1. Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 186. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  2. "Naval Forces Japan, Navy Region Japan Holds Change of Command". DVIDS.
  3. General, Anna Marie G.; Hawaii, Navy Region. "Command changes for Navy Region Hawaii, Surface Group Middle Pacific". www.cpf.navy.mil.
  4. "A Commodore's Final Words..." www.linkedin.com.
  5. "USS Gonzalez holds Change of Command". DVIDS.
  6. "Destroyer Gonzalez welcomes new CO". Military News.
  7. "Flag Officer Assignments". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  8. "Naval Forces Japan, Navy Region Japan Holds Change of Command". DVIDS. July 14, 2021.
  9. "Rear Admiral Brian Fort". www.navy.mil.
  10. "Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan/Commander, Navy Region Japan". Commander, Navy Installations Command. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  11. "Navy Names Former Destroyer Commander to Lead USS Fitzgerald Collision Investigation". June 23, 2017.
  12. "Rear Adm. Fort becomes Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
  13. "Naval Forces Japan, Navy Region Japan Holds Change of Command [Image 13 of 13]". DVIDS. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  14. Japan Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces [@ModJapan_en] (July 1, 2021). "On July 1, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Matsukawa bestowed the order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan, for his great contribution to the defense of Japan" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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