Rear Adm. John Menoni will assume command of the Joint Region Marianas, replacing Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, who has been appointed new president of the Naval War College.
Chatfield, who took command of JRM in January 2017, overseas the military buildup on Guam and Tinian.
The change of command, scheduled for Tuesday, is taking place amid the local leaders’ call for the military to halt the construction of the live-fire training complex in Northwest Field, which is close to the site where ancient artifacts have been discovered.
Chatfield will turn over the JRM command to Menoni during a ceremony to be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, at the Guam High School gymnasium at the U.S. Naval Hospital annex in Agana Heights.
Menoni will command U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, the U.S. Pacific Command in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau, as well as Task Force West.
Menoni reports to Guam after serving as the executive assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources.
A native of Oak Park, Illinois, Menoni graduated from the University of Illinois where he earned a bachelor’s in economics and received his commission on July 3, 1991.
He has also earned a master's in business administration, a certificate in Systems Analysis from NPS, JPME-1 credit from the Naval War College, and JPME-2 credit from the Joint Staff College.
Menoni attended naval flight training in Pensacola, Florida, receiving his wings in October 1993. He is qualified as a pilot in both the H-46 Sea Knight and MH-60S Knighthawk.
He has served multiple operational flying tours including Helicopter Combat Support Squadron FIVE, Helicopter Combat Support Squadron ELEVEN, Command of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, and Commander of the 2515th Naval Air Ambulance Detachment supporting Arcent and Multi-National Corps - Iraq.
His most recent operational tour was as the executive officer and Commanding Officer of USS San Diego (LPD-22).