Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced the following flag officer assignments:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael P. Tillotson is being assigned as deputy director for operations - force protection, DJ3-FP, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Tillotson is currently serving as commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Norfolk, Va.

Capt. James J. Shannon, who has been selected to the rank of rear admiral (lower half), is being assigned as commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Washington, D.C. Shannon is currently serving as executive assistant to the assistant secretary of the Navy (research, development, and acquisition), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C.

Capt. Clifford S. Sharpe, who has been selected to the rank of rear admiral (lower half), is being assigned as commander, Naval Service Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Sharpe is currently serving as division director for the Surface Officer Career Management Division, Navy Military Personnel Command, PERS 41, Millington, Tenn.

Capt. Troy M. Shoemaker, who has been selected to the rank of rear admiral (lower half), is being assigned as assistant commander for distribution, PERS 4, Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tenn. Shoemaker is currently serving as executive assistant to the commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Capt. Douglas J. Venlet, who has been selected to the rank of rear admiral (lower half), is being assigned as deputy director, surface warfare for combat systems/weapons, N86F, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Venlet is currently serving as branch head, strategic concepts, N5SC, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.