Vice Adm. Bill Merz, left, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, presents Rear Adm. Fred Kacher with the Legion of Merit during a change of command ceremony for Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 on Naval Base White Beach. Rear Adm. Chris Engdahl relieved Kacher as the ESG 7 commander. ESG 7 is forward deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.