| Brian P. Fort | |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 19902021 |
| Rank: | Rear Admiral (lower half) |
| Commands: | United States Naval Forces Japan Navy Region Japan Navy Region Hawaii Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa Destroyer Squadron 26 |
| Awards: | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Order of the Rising Sun |
| Alma Mater: | University of Arkansas (BS) Naval War College (MNSS) Joint Forces Staff College |
Brian Patrick Fort (born 1966)[1] is a retired United States Navy rear admiral and surface warfare officer who last served as the 35th commander of the United States Naval Forces Japan and commander of Navy Region Japan from July 10, 2019 to July 14, 2021. As CNFJ/CNRJ, Fort was responsible for providing shore readiness to U.S. naval forces in Japan and maritime support to the American forward presence in Japan as well as cooperation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to promote regional stability and deter aggression. He previously served as commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific from August 2017 to June 2019, with tours as commodore of Destroyer Squadron 26 from June 2013 to June 2015 and commanding officer of from February 2008 to August 2009.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
In March 2021, Carl Lahti, former commandant of Naval District Washington was assigned to succeed Fort as commander of United States Naval Forces Japan and Navy Region Japan. The change of command ceremony took place on July 14, 2021, with Fort retiring from active duty after 32 years of distinguished service.[7] [8]
Raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Fort received his commission via Officer Candidate School in 1990. He earned a master's degree from the Naval War College in National Security and Strategic Studies and is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College.[9] [10]
Fort was selected to lead the U.S. Navy's investigation into the collision of the with a civilian merchant ship in June 2017. The sudden assignment resulted in the cancellation of the planned Navy Region Hawaii change of command ceremony with John V. Fuller, who assumed command forgoing the ceremony.[11] [12]
| Surface Warfare Officer Pin | |||||
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal[13] | Legion of Merit with three award stars | Defense Meritorious Service Medal | |||
| Meritorious Service Medal with two award stars | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four award stars | ||||
| Navy Unit Commendation with bronze service star | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze service star | ||||
| Navy "E" Ribbon, 4th award | National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | ||||
| Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | ||||
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze service stars | ||||
| Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star | Special Operations Service Ribbon | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia | |||
| Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class[14] | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | ||||
| Command at Sea insignia | |||||
| Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | |||||