US
SOUTHCOM
Gen.
Fraser Assumes Command of SOUTHCOM
(news in portuguese link)
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class
Michael Wimbish
U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs
MIAMI
(June 25, 2009) – Air Force Gen. Douglas M. Fraser
became the first-ever Air Force officer to lead U.S.
Southern Command as he relieved Navy Adm. James Stavridis
during a change of command ceremony at the command’s
headquarters.
More than 300 invited guests and military leaders attended
the event, including Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates
and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine
Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright.
Fraser
comes to SOUTHCOM from U.S. Pacific Command, headquartered
in Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, where he served as the deputy
commander. As SOUTHCOM’s commander, he is now
responsible for overseeing all U.S. military operations
in Latin America and Caribbean.
“The
transnational and transregional challenges we face to
security, stability, and prosperity in the Americas
can only be met through strong, enduring partnerships,”
said Fraser. “I’m eager to work with this
great team of professionals at Southern Command and
our partners in South Florida and throughout the region”
“I
have followed this gentleman for many years. I am in
the General Fraser fan club and have been for a long
time. This is a wonderful appointment,” said Cartwright.
Fraser
is SOUTHCOM’s 21st commander since it was designated
in 1963. He takes over following Stavridis’ nearly
three-year stint at SOUTHCOM, a tenure that included
the rescue of three American hostages held for five
years in Colombia, the growth of several multinational
exercise programs, the institutionalization of humanitarian
and disaster relief missions and a complete headquarters
reorganization.
“Admiral
Stavridis has fostered a spirit of interagency and international
cooperation that reflects the post-Cold War realities
of the 21st Century. He has made SOUTHCOM the embodiment
of what is now called ‘smart power,’”
said Gates.
“When
he first took this post nearly three years ago, [Stavridis]
understood that the mix of security challenges facing
this region – narcotics, corruption, gangs, kidnapping
and more – does not lend itself to military solutions
as traditionally understood and practiced. Toward this
end, [Stavridis] has not just redrawn this command’s
organization charts, he has fundamentally reformed its
institutional culture and ways of doing business,”
said Gates.
“Consider
that arguably the most successful act of American public
diplomacy so far in this new century was the tour of
the USNS Comfort in 2007,” said Gates, who noted
that the hospital ship’s crew conducted 400,000
patient encounters and 1,700 surgeries in 12 nations.
“The success of that first tour spurred the subsequent
Continuing Promise missions that carry on to this day.”
Stavridis,
who assumed command of SOUTHCOM on Oct. 19, 2006, heads
to NATO as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, headquartered
in Mons, Belgium. He will also serve as commander, U.S.
European Command, in Stuttgart, Germany.
At
the end of his speech, Stavridis told the audience that
he will miss SOUTHCOM and that “my heart will
always be in the Americas.”
In
addition to his previous post, Fraser has also served
as commander of Alaskan Command, a component command
of U.S. Pacific Command; 11th Air Force, Pacific Air
Forces; and Alaskan North American Defense Region, headquartered
at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.
A
1975 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and 1992
graduate of the National War College, Fraser earned
a master’s degree in political science from Auburn
University in 1987.
Prior
to the ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton
Schwartz officially promoted Fraser to a four-star general
at a small gathering of family, friends and military
leaders in the SOUTHCOM headquarters.
U.S.
Southern Command is one of six geographic combatant
commands in the Department of Defense. The command’s
region encompasses more than 30 countries in the Caribbean,
Central America and South America. Its mission is to
conduct military operations and promote security cooperation
to achieve U.S. strategic objectives.
Search
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With
attendance of the all high ranking US military
and civilian officers. A clear message to the
continent. At the photo: Gen(USAF) Fraser, Secretary
Gates, Gen (USMC) Jones, Chief-Staff and Admiral
Stavridis |
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Gen
(USAF) Fraser receive the SOUTHCOM flag from the
hands of Chief of General Staff
Gen (USMC) Jones |
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