Rear Adm. Joe Tofalo will take command of Submarine Forces, a post that comes with a third star and oversees the submarine force's manning, gear and training.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that the president has made the following nomination: "Navy Rear Adm. Joseph E. Tofalo, for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and for assignment as commander, Naval Submarine Forces; commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and commander, Allied Submarine Command, Norfolk, Virginia. Tofalo is currently serving as director, undersea warfare division, N97, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia."
The nomination is the latest in a string of new assignments at the top rungs of the nuclear Navy. Adm. John Richardson, the head of Naval Reactors, has been nominated to be the next chief of naval operations; a new NR boss hadn't been named as of May 20.
Tofalo, a 1983 Naval Academy graduate, has commanded the ballistic missile submarine Maine, Submarine Squadron 3, and Submarine Group 10, according to his bio. He currently is serving as the director of undersea warfare on the chief of naval operations' staff at the Pentagon.