AFRICA: New Head of Africa Command Tapped

Rodriquez would succeed Ham

(U.S. Army photo)

President Barack Obama has nominated Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez as the next chief of Africa Command.

If the choice is confirmed by the Senate, Rodriquez (photo left) would be the third commander of the newest U.S. regional combatant command. He would succeed Gen. Carter F. Ham, who had headed AFRICOM since March 2011.

Africa Command, based in Stuggart, Germany is responsible for protecting U.S. interests in Africa and assisting allies to counter insurgencies, terrorism and piracy. The only U.S. military presence in Africa is Camp Lemonier, a former French Foreign Legion post in Djibouti near the Horn of Africa.

A 1976 West Point graduate, Rodriguez is currently commander of U.S. Army Forces Command.

He was the top deputy commander in Afghanistan during the surge of troops ordered by Obama to stabilize the country in preparation for a U.S. withdrawal in 2014.

 

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