READOUT: Pacific Fleet Commander’s travel to Japan, April 13-15

16 April 2026

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited Japan alongside Fleet Master Chief Donald L. Davis Jr, Apr. 13-15, 2026, to reaffirm the U.S.-Japan alliance as the cornerstone of regional peace, security, and prosperity.

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Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, travels to Japan

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis speak to Sailors about Koehler’s Fleet Orders during an all-hands call on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while the ship is moored on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

In Yokota and Tokyo, Koehler met with senior Japanese and U.S. officials to discuss security challenges and ways to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.

The meetings included:

Adm. Akira Saito, chief of staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Adm. Tateki Tawara, commander, Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command (JJOC)
Lt. Gen. Hidetada Inatsuki, commander, Air Defence Command (ADC), Japan Air Self-Defence Force
U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass
Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, commander, U.S. Forces Japan

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Adm. Akira Saito, chief of staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, in Tokyo, April 14, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, poses for a photo with Adm. Tateki Tawara, commander, Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command (JJOC), following a meeting at the JJOC headquarters in Tokyo, April 14, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, and Lt. Gen. Hidetada Inatsuki, commander, Air Defence Command (ADC), Japan Air Self-Defence Force, pose for a photo at the ADC headquarters on Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (Photo courtesy of Japan Air Self-Defense Force)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, is greeted by U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass, prior to a meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, April 14, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, commander, U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ), at the USFJ headquarters on Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Koehler and Davis also visited Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka. They discussed quality of service issues with Sailors over lunch at the base galley, met with U.S. Naval Forces Japan and installation leadership, and conducted an all hands call on the flight deck aboard the forward-deployed Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).

U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis, center, speaks to Sailors about quality-of-life concerns on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Rear Adm. Ian Johnson, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ), at the CNFJ headquarters on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, thanks sideboys during his arrival to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while the ship is moored on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, is greeted by Rear Adm. Eric Anduze, commander, Carrier Strike Group 5 and commander, Task Force 70, center, and Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, commanding officer, USS George Washington (CVN 73), during his arrival to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while the ship is moored on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

During the all-hands call, Koehler and Davis thanked Sailors, Civilians, and their families for their service and support. They also discussed Koehler’s Fleet Orders and how the crew’s professionalism, teamwork, safety, and resiliency ensure our Navy is ready to respond to any contingency across the globe at any time.

U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis speaks about the importance of professionalism during an all-hands call on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while the ship is moored on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis, center, answer a question from a Sailor during an all-hands call on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while the ship is moored on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Koehler met with City of Yokosuka Mayor Katsuaki Kamiji and thanked him for his support to the forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) assigned there.

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with the City of Yokosuka Mayor, Katsuaki Kamijii, right, at the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan headquarters on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, and Rear Adm. Ian Johnson, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ), left, meet with the City of Yokosuka Mayor, Katsuaki Kamijii, at the USFJ headquarters on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, April 13, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Koehler and Davis then visited with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and toured their training facilities at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. They recognized the outstanding job of several Sailors and expressed their gratitude for their unwavering commitment to the mission.

Front row from left to right: Command Master Chief Ry Vansickle, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, Capt. Daniel O’Hara, deputy commander, CVW 5, Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), COMPACFLT Master Chief Don Davis, Capt. Brian Kesselring, commander, CVW 5, and Sailors pose for a photo during a tour of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 15, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, speaks to Sailors assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 during a tour of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 15, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis, center, speaks to Sailors assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 during a tour of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 15, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, receives an overview of flightline operations from Col. Kenneth Rossman, commanding officer, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, from the air traffic control tower on MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, April 15, 2026. The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

The visit to Japan underscored the United States’ commitment to peace and stability in the region, committed to enhancing resiliency and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and other regional allies and partners.