Vice Adm. Pat Hannifin is a native of San Diego, California. He was commissioned in 1991 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of San Diego. He is also a graduate of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.
Operationally, he flew the F/A-18C Hornet with Strike Fighter Squadron 27 (VFA 27) “Royal Maces” and commanded the “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron 81 (VFA 81). He served as executive officer of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), and commanding officer of both USS Arlington (LPD 24) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
Ashore, Hannifin served as legal officer for the “Bandits” of Fighter Squadron 126 (VF 126) and tested F/A-18 A-Fs and T-45s for the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron in Patuxent River, Maryland. He served as the VFA readiness officer for Commander Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet, the Joint Force Coordinator (JFC) division chief for the Joint Staff J3, and the Carrier Requirements division chief for OPNAV N98.
As a flag officer, he served as Deputy Director for Political-Military Affairs – Asia, Joint Staff, J5, Washington, D.C. and Commander, Carrier Strike Group FIVE embarked onboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76); and USINDOPACOM Director for Operations, Camp H.M. Smith.
Hannifin assumed duties as Commander, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet in November 2025. He is the 55th commander of the U.S. Navy's largest forward deployed fleet.
His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Medal and several other personal, unit and campaign awards. He has accumulated over 3000 flight hours in 33 different type aircraft.
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