Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to get new leader

[unhappycamper]

Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to get new leader
By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, February 5, 2009

STUTTGART, Germany — A new leader will take the helm of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa on Thursday, assuming control of a mission in a volatile region that has been a cornerstone of U.S. counterterrorism efforts on the continent.

Rear Adm. Anthony M. Kurta will replace Rear Adm. Philip H. Greene as the lone operational commander on the ground in Africa, where he will serve a one-year tour.

The change of command is the first to occur under U.S. Africa Command, which took over all Defense Department initiatives in Africa on Oct. 1.

While AFRICOM is engaged in numerous missions up and down the continent, most of those efforts involve small numbers of troops on short-term missions and training exercises. The CJTF-HOA project, meanwhile, represents the military’s most substantial effort in Africa.

CJTF-HOA was established in 2002 and initially operated from the USS Mount Whitney. In the spring of 2003, the mission moved ashore.


Rest of Africom article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60485