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Release
Immediate Release

Flag Officer Assignments

July 15, 2016

The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson announced today the following assignments:

Rear Adm. (upper half) Jeffrey A. Harley will be assigned as president, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.  Harley is currently serving as assistant deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans, and strategy, N3/N5B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) William R. Merz, selected for promotion to rear admiral (upper half), will be assigned as director, Undersea Warfare Division, N97, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.  Merz is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Seven; commander, Task Force 74; and commander, Task Force 54, Yokosuka, Japan.