US nominates Navy admiral to head Pacific Command

by Jeremy Herb - 12/29/11 10:51 PM ET

Locklear
would succeed Adm. Robert Willard, who has been commander of U.S. Pacific Command since
2009.

{mosads}The
Obama administration has signaled a shift of strategy to the Pacific as it
winds down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last month the president announced
that 2,500 Marines would be stationed in Australia, in a move that was viewed as
showing China that the United States would remain active in the Pacific.

U.S.
Pacific Command is one of six regions into which the U.S. military splits the globe.

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