Who is designated as the Sea Combat Commander (SCC)?

The Sea Combat Commander (SCC) is primarily responsible for the overall conduct of maritime operations within a given task force or maritime operations area. This designation typically falls on a senior naval officer, often the officer commanding a destroyer squadron, due to the destroyer's versatility and capabilities in a variety of combat scenarios, including air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare.

The role of the SCC is critical for ensuring that all units within the task force operate cohesively, responding to threats and coordinating various combat capabilities. Having tactical command over the destroyer squadron allows for effective and rapid decision-making, which is essential in dynamic maritime environments.

Other roles, such as those of the captain of an amphibious assault ship, captain of a logistics ship, or commander of aircraft operations, have specific command responsibilities but do not encompass the broader operational authority that the SCC possesses. The destroyer squadron commander is better suited for the multifaceted demands of commanding sea combat operations, making this choice the correct designation for the Sea Combat Commander.