United States Naval Forces Korea


The U.S. Naval Forces Korea is a major shore command of the United States Navy that serves as the shore support agency for all U.S. naval activity in South Korea. Known by the initials "CNFK", an abbreviation of the address format of the unit, its headquarters are at Busan Naval Base, Busan.
CNFK is jointly under the command of the operational command of United States Pacific Fleet, responsible for the support of all U.S. naval forces on the Korean peninsula, and United States Forces Korea. CNFK is also CNIC's assigned Region Commander with administrative control over what are two naval installations in South Korea which are Fleet Activity Chinhae and Busan Naval Base. CNFK is commanded by a rear admiral who serves as the Navy liaison to the Commander of the United States Forces Korea. In times of war, CNFK becomes a ground-based task force of United States Seventh Fleet.

History

U.S. Naval Forces, Korea, was established on 1 July 1957, with headquarters in Seoul. The command was created by the reorganization of the Naval Forces, Far East Command into the separate commands of Naval Forces Japan and Naval Forces Korea. Commander, Naval Forces Korea, assumed the following additional duties:
The principal mission of CNFK was acting as part of the United Nations Command. In this regard, the commander exercised command of U.S. Naval Forces assigned or attached, and operational control over the Republic of Korea Navy.
Rear Admiral Neil A. Koprowski assumed command of CNFK in June 2023.

Bases

List of commanders

CommanderTerm
Rear Adm. Albert E. Jarrell
Rear Adm. Eugene B. McKinney
Capt. Thomas W. Hogan
Rear Adm. John A. Tyree, Jr.
Rear Adm. George W. Pressey
Rear Adm. John M. Alford
Rear Adm. Joseph W. Williams, Jr.
Rear Adm. Woodrow W. McCrory
Rear Adm. Donal G. Irvine
Rear Adm. George P. Steele
Rear Adm. Victor A. Dybdal
Rear Adm. Henry S. Morgan, Jr.
Rear Adm. Mark P. Frudden
Rear Adm. Warren C. Hamm
Rear Adm. Stephen J. Hostettler
Rear Adm. James G. Storms
Rear Adm. Warren F. Kelley
Rear Adm. Charles F. Horne III
Rear Adm. William T. Pendley
Rear Adm. Larry G. Vogt
Rear Adm. William W. Mathis
Rear Adm. Edison L. Watkins III
Rear Adm. Richard "Dick" Mayo
Rear Adm. Christopher W. Cole
Rear Adm. William D. Sullivan
Rear Adm. Gary R. Jones
Rear Adm. Daniel S. Mastagni
Rear Adm. Fred Byus
Rear Adm. James P. Wisecup
Rear Adm. Thomas S. Rowden
Rear Adm. Peter A. Gumataotao
Rear Adm. William C. McQuilkin
Rear Adm. Lisa Franchetti
Rear Adm. William D. Byrne Jr.
Rear Adm. Charles B. Cooper II
Rear Adm. Michael E. Boyle
Rear Adm. Michael P. Donnelly
Rear Adm. Mark A. Schafer
Rear Adm. Neil A. Koprowski
Rear Adm. Sharif H. Calfee