New leader takes command of Navy Region Hawaii in July

Capt. Richard L. Williams Jr. has been selected for promotion to rear admiral and will head Navy Region Hawaii, which oversees the Navy’s largest and most strategic island base in the Pacific.

Williams is currently serving as branch head of assessments at U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va.

He will replace Rear Adm. Fernandez "Frank" Ponds at Navy Region Hawaii and as commander of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific.

Ponds, on the job since 2011, will be assigned as commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3 in San Diego. Ponds, a native of Alabama, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama in 1982.

A change of command at Pearl Harbor is scheduled for next month.

As commander of Navy Region Hawaii, Williams will be tasked with supporting the 29 surface ships and submarines home-ported at Pearl Harbor, as well as 36 aircraft stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.

Navy Region Hawaii extends over 23,000 acres of land and water on Oahu and Kauai and serves as the host for the headquarters of seven major Navy commands, including the Pacific Fleet.