Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, a veteran fighter pilot who flew in Operation Desert Storm, will take command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on Friday.

The current commander of Pacific Fleet, Adm. Robert Willard, next month will take charge of the U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith.

Walsh was serving as vice chief of naval operations at the Pentagon. Friday's change-of-command ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at Pier Kilo 8 at Pearl Harbor.

Adm. Timothy Keating, who will be stepping down as head of U.S. Pacific Command, will be a speaker at the change of command, along with Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the new vice chief of naval operations, officials said.

Walsh will become the 32nd commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in a lineage that included Adm. Chester Nimitz's service during World War II.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet's territory is half the globe. It includes more than 170 ships and submarines, 1,300 aircraft and 122,000 sailors, reservists and civilians.