thedrifter
07-10-07, 07:41 PM
Gates taps Army 4-star to be AfriCom chief
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 18:14:52 EDT
The deputy commander of U.S. European Command has been nominated to become the first-ever commander of Africa Command.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Tuesday that President Bush has nominated Army Gen. William Ward for re-appointment to the rank of general and the top job at the new command, announced in February by President Bush.
“Kip” Ward, who must be confirmed for the job by the U.S. Senate, was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1971. His military service has included overseas tours in Korea, Egypt, Somalia, Bosnia, Israel, two tours in Germany and, most pertinent to the “AfriCom” assignment, Somalia.
Ward’s long list of staff assignments includes a posting that should also prove valuable in his new job, should he be confirmed: Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation, at the U.S. Embassy in Egypt.
The command will begin life in October as a “sub-unified” command with “initial operating capability,” headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and operating under European Command. It is to become a fully operational, separate unified command no later than October 2008. The ultimate headquarters location — officials say there could be more than one — is still being determined.
The administration’s goal for AfriCom is “to help build the capacity of African nations and African organizations like the African Standby Force to promote peace and security and respond to crises on the continent.” The command will also, according to DoD, “coordinate DoD support to other U.S. government programs for Africa in the areas of diplomacy and development to help make those efforts more effective.”
Officials say the command will employ a unique blend of diplomacy, humanitarian aid and counter-terrorism operations, using a wide range of U.S. capabilities that aim to stop problems before they start in a region of growing economic and political importance to the U.S.
Ellie
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 18:14:52 EDT
The deputy commander of U.S. European Command has been nominated to become the first-ever commander of Africa Command.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Tuesday that President Bush has nominated Army Gen. William Ward for re-appointment to the rank of general and the top job at the new command, announced in February by President Bush.
“Kip” Ward, who must be confirmed for the job by the U.S. Senate, was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1971. His military service has included overseas tours in Korea, Egypt, Somalia, Bosnia, Israel, two tours in Germany and, most pertinent to the “AfriCom” assignment, Somalia.
Ward’s long list of staff assignments includes a posting that should also prove valuable in his new job, should he be confirmed: Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation, at the U.S. Embassy in Egypt.
The command will begin life in October as a “sub-unified” command with “initial operating capability,” headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and operating under European Command. It is to become a fully operational, separate unified command no later than October 2008. The ultimate headquarters location — officials say there could be more than one — is still being determined.
The administration’s goal for AfriCom is “to help build the capacity of African nations and African organizations like the African Standby Force to promote peace and security and respond to crises on the continent.” The command will also, according to DoD, “coordinate DoD support to other U.S. government programs for Africa in the areas of diplomacy and development to help make those efforts more effective.”
Officials say the command will employ a unique blend of diplomacy, humanitarian aid and counter-terrorism operations, using a wide range of U.S. capabilities that aim to stop problems before they start in a region of growing economic and political importance to the U.S.
Ellie