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Previous Commanders
** T he title of Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, was in continuous use from Feb. 1, 1941, through Oct. 24, 2002. In October 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld directed that the title of "Commander-in-Chief" be reserved solely for the president of the United States. In a message to naval commanders-in-chief, the Chief of Naval Operations directed a change of title to that of "commander." Accordingly, on Oct. 24, 2002, the title of Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet was established.
* Adm. Kelso relinquished the position of deputy commander-in-chief, U.S. Atlantic Command, on Sept. 16, 1986.
The title, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, was re-established on Feb. 1, 1941, when the U.S. Fleet was reorganized under General Order 143 to form the U.S. Atlantic, U.S. Pacific and U.S. Asiatic Fleets, each with a four-star commander-in-chief. In 1922, the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the U.S. Atlantic Fleet were combined to form the United States Fleet. The main body of its ships -- the Battle Fleet -- was stationed in the Pacific Ocean, while the Scouting Fleet was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.