Paul LaCamera Appointed as New ROK-US Combined Forces Command Commander

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Paul LaCamera (57, General), Commander of the U.S. Army Pacific, has been nominated as the next Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command. The Commander of the Combined Forces Command also concurrently serves as the UN Commander and the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea.

According to government officials on the 4th, the U.S. Department of Defense reportedly notified the South Korean government of this personnel decision around mid-last month. Commander LaCamera previously served as the commander of the U.S. 18th Airborne Corps and the commander of the international coalition forces (CJTF-OIR) fighting the armed group Islamic State (IS), and has been leading the U.S. Army Pacific since November last year.

The timing of Commander LaCamera’s appointment has not yet been decided. Considering the timing of the U.S. congressional confirmation hearings and approval procedures, it is highly likely that the appointment will be made after Joe Biden, the U.S. President-elect, officially takes office early next year.

This personnel decision is known to have been made to coincide with the end of General Robert Abrams’ term as the Combined Forces Commander. The term for the Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command is usually two years. Given that the change in the Combined Forces Commander was announced before Biden’s official inauguration, some view this as an extension of the recent moves by the Donald Trump administration to replace diplomatic and security personnel following the presidential election.