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March 19, 2007

 

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U.S. Central Command
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Editor's Note 

The U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, is responsible for US military forces in a region of "over 6.5 million square miles and 27 countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt, the countries of the Horn of Africa, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and the Central Asian states as far north as Kazakhstan," according to the CENTCOM Web site. The command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida, activated in 1983, evolved from the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, or RDJTF. That forerunner of CENTCOM was created in early 1980 to focus US military forces responding to the holding of American hostages by Iran and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

U.S. Army General John P. Abizaid served as CENTCOM's Commander since he replaced General Tommy R. Franks on July 7, 2003. On Friday, in a ceremony overseen by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, General Abizaid turned over command of CENTCOM to U.S. Navy Admiral William J. Fallon. Today SUSRIS presents for your consideration a report on the change of command in CENTCOM's leadership, courtesy of the CENTCOM Public Affairs Office.

 

 

Admiral Fallon Assumes Command of CENTCOM

16 March 2007
By 1st Sgt. Marvin Baker
US CENTCOM Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Adm. William J. Fallon took charge of United States Central Command here Friday replacing the retiring Gen. John P. Abizaid.

Fallon, the former chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, now leads more than 200,000 service members deployed in CENTCOM�s area of responsibility, which includes 27 nations throughout Southwest Asia, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.

Fallon is the first naval officer to assume command of CENTCOM, which began as the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force in 1980.

 Secretary of Defense, Robert M.Gates, presided during the ceremony, paying tribute to both Abizaid and Fallon during his keynote remarks.

He thanked Abizaid and his wife Kathy for the wonderful job they�ve both done for the United States and wished them well in their retirement. Abizaid wraps up 54 months at CENTCOM as both deputy commander and commander.

Following Fallon�s review of the troops, which included members of the CENTCOM component commands, Gates talked about the admiral. He said this is Fallon�s fourth, four-star assignment after being nominated for the CENTCOM post by President George W. Bush in January and getting confirmed by the Senate in February.

�Nobody would begrudge you if you asked for a well-deserved rest but me,� Gates said to Fallon. �We need you again.�

Fallon spoke about the way ahead. He said he puts a premium on good, strong relationships. The admiral added he will work hard to make that happen, especially in the AOR.

�We have been entrusted with a great responsibility in this part of the world,� Fallon said. �And despite the challenges, we have a lot going for us. The five branches serve so well around the world, around the clock. We have the support of the American people who want us to succeed.�

Fallon began his naval career in 1967 and has an impressive list of accomplishments since then. He flew the RA-5C Vigilante with a combat deployment to Vietnam , transitioning to the A-6 Intruder in 1974. He served in flying assignments with attack squadrons and carrier air wings for 24 years, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans embarked in USS Saratoga, USS Ranger, USS Nimitz, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Theodore Roosevelt. He has logged more than 1,300 carrier arrested landings and 4,800 flight hours in tactical jet aircraft.

Fallon�s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Source: US Central Command Web Site
 

About US Central Command:

U.S. Central Command Mission
U.S. Central Command conducts operations to attack, disrupt and defeat terrorism, deter and defeat adversaries, deny access to WMD, assure regional access, strengthen regional stability, build the self-reliance of partner nations� security forces, and protect the vital interests of the United States within the area of responsibility.

 

 

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