Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Korea (CNFK) is the U.S. Navy's representative in the Republic of Korea (ROK). It provides leadership and expertise in naval matters that support the mission of United Nations Command (UNC)/Combined Forces Command (CFC)/ United States Forces Korea (USFK). CNFK works closely with the ROK Navy to improve institutional and operational effectiveness and to strengthen collective security efforts in the Korean Theater.

In 2016 and 2017, CNFK relocated the majority of its personnel from the U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan in Seoul to the ROK Fleet base in Busan. CNFK is the only U.S. headquarters located on a ROK base. This move enables CNFK to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our ROK partners on a daily basis. Select CNFK staff are located on U.S. Army Garrison-Camp Humphreys near Pyeongtaek, and a separate detachment is located aboard Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae.

Both navies coordinate multilateral participation in several combined training events each year designed to sustain and strengthen the alliance, maintain the Armistice, and transform and sustain the force. Throughout the year, the U.S. and ROK navies work together on several initiatives to continue strengthening the partnership through the close relationship CNFK has built with Commander, ROK Fleet (CRF).

Readiness is the number one priority for CNFK. As such, CNFK continued in calendar year 2019 to train in a combined manner at echelon to further enhance our combat readiness and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula.

In 2019, the ROK Minister of Defense and U.S. Secretary of Defense announced the conclusion of the Freedom Guardian training series and the beginning of combined trainings focused on Initial Operational Capability (IOC) assessment for wartime operational command (OPCON) transition. In March and August, the U.S. and ROK navies came together for important and intensive tabletop training on Naval Component Command responsibilities in support of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC)-led spring and fall Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) events.

In addition to maintaining the enduring commitment to the ROK-U.S. alliance, the CCPTs enable CNFK to continue to improve ROK-U.S. interoperability as the two countries work toward the common goal of OPCON transfer by training and rehearsing with our ROK allies and United Nations Sending State partners. 

In early 2019, following an extended maintenance period, the 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) returned to Busan for her first port visit since August 2015, the first visit to CNFK since the command executed its move south from Yongsan.

CNFK also enables the continued development of strong relationships between our mine countermeasures operators and subject matter experts by hosting a UNC MCM symposium in Busan for eight UNSS nations, including facilitating U.S. and Australian Surface Mine Countermeasures (SMCM) ships during multinational mine warfare training.

CNFK supports training evolutions, port visits, and DV visits and key leader engagements, all aimed at improving teamwork and interoperability between the U.S. and ROK navies and strengthening the relationship to ensure continued regional stability.

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Chronological Record of Commanders

​Rear Admiral Neil A. Koprowski
June 2023 to Present
Rear Admiral Mark A. Schafer
September 2021 to June 2023

Rear Admiral Buzz Donnelly
April 2019 to September 2021

Rear Admiral Michael Boyle
December 2017 to April 2019

Rear Admiral Brad Cooper
September 2016 to December 2017

Rear Admiral Bill Byrne
August 2015 to September 2016

Rear Admiral Lisa Franchetti
September 2013 to August 2015

Rear Admiral William C. McQuilkin
September 2011 to September 2013

Rear Admiral Pete A. Gumataotao
September 2009 to September 2011

Rear Admiral Thomas S. Rowden
September 2007 to September 2009

Rear Admiral James P. Wisecup
September 2005 to September 2008

Rear Admiral Fred Byus, USN
September 2003 to September 2005

Rear Admiral Daniel S. Mastagni, USNR
July 2003 to September 2003

Rear Admiral Gary R. Jones, USN
September 2001 to August 2003

Rear Admiral William D. Sullivan, USN
October 1999 to September 2001

Rear Admiral Christopher W. Cole, USN
December 1997 to October 1999

Rear Admiral Richard W. Mayo, USN
July 1995 to December 1997

Rear Admiral Edison L. Watkins III, USN
August 1993 to July 1995

Rear Admiral William W. Mathis, USN
January 1991 to August 1993

Rear Admiral Larry G. Vogt, USN
February 1989 to January 1991

Rear Admiral William T. Pendley, USN
October 1986 to February 1989

Rear Admiral Charles F. Horne III, USN
April 1984 to October 1986

Rear Admiral Warren F. Kelley, USN
July 1983 to April 1984

Rear Admiral James G. Storms, USN
July 1981 to July 1983

Rear Admiral Stephen J. Hostettler, USN
July 1979 to July 1981

Rear Admiral Warren C. Hamm, USN
May 1977 to July 1979

Rear Admiral Mark P. Frudden, USN
April 1975 to May 1977

Rear Admiral Henry S. Morgan, Jr., USN
June 1972 to April 1975

Rear Admiral Victor A. Dybdal, USN
September 1970 to June 1972

Rear Admiral George P. Steele, USN
July 1968 to September 1970

Rear Admiral Donal G. Irvine, USN
October 1966 to July 1968

Rear Admiral Woodrow W. McCrory, USN
July 1964 to OCT 1966

Rear Admiral Joseph W. Williams, Jr., USN
March 1964 to July 1964

Rear Admiral John M. Alford, USN
September 1962 to March 1964

Rear Admiral George W. Pressey, USN
August 1960 to September 1962

Rear Admiral John A. Tyree, Jr., USN
September 1959 to August 1960

Captain Thomas W. Hogan, USN
June 1959 to September 1959

Rear Admiral Eugene B. McKinney, USN
June 1958 to June 1959

Rear Admiral Albert E. Jarrell, USN
July 1957 to June 1958