Presiding over the ceremony was Vice Adm. Bill Merz, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. “Fred, you were exactly the right leader of Expeditionary Strike Group 7 when the Fleet needed you most. A tough year, I am thankful for your great work and the tremendous achievements of your team,” said Merz. During Kacher’s time as commander, the Sailors and Marines of ESG 7 expanded naval integration and warfighting concepts, and combated the challenges of the pandemic throughout each deployment. In the past 18 months, the strike group executed four deployments covering a range of amphibious operations to include embarking and operating the F-35B Lighting II aircraft on USS America (LHA 6), integrating with Mark VI patrol boats and expeditionary mine counter measure detachments, expeditionary strike force operations and executing more than a dozen exercises and operations with U.S. allies and partners in the region.