Walter Doran
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Admiral Walter F. Doran became Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, on May 4, 2002. He is responsible for the world's largest combined fleet command, encompassing 102 million square miles (264,000,000 km²) and more than 190 ships and submarines, 1,400 aircraft, 191,000 Sailors and Marines and 30,000 civilians.
A native of Albany, N.Y., he attended Villanova University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history and was commissioned an Ensign in the through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program in 1967.
Adm. Doran's command tours include USS Dewert (FFG-45) and USS Belknap (CG-26), flagship for the U.S. Sixth Fleet home ported in Gaeta, Italy. He commanded Amphibious Group One and Amphibious Force U.S. Seventh Fleet in Okinawa, Japan, from June 1995 to December 1996 and served as Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff, U.S. Southern Command from December 1996 through July 1998. Adm. Doran commanded Seventh Fleet from August 1998 to September 2000.
Significant shore assignments include numerous tours on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C., including Assistant Branch Head, Pacific Ocean Area/Pacific Plans and Policy Branch (OP-612C) and Branch Head, Europe/NATO Branch (OP-614). From June, 1983 to July, 1985, Adm. Doran was Military Assistant to the Vice President of the United States responsible for Pacific area developments and arms control negotiations.
Selected to Flag rank in January, 1993, Adm. Doran served as Director, Operations, Plans and Political-Military (N-31/52) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations and as the Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff from September 2000 to May 2002.
In 1979, Adm. Doran attended the Indian Defense Services Staff College in Wellington, India, and earned a Master's Degree in Defense Studies. He also holds a Master's Degree in Communications from the University of Oklahoma, which he received in 1983.
Adm. Doran's personal awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with one bronze oak leaf), Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with four Gold Stars), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Combat Distinguishing Device), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with one Gold Star).
US Navy Official Biography - taken from http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/people/flags/biographies/doranwf.html