The Korean Navy Admiral Commanding Forces from 38 Countries Is

Brigadier General Go Seung-beom Appointed as the Sixth Commander of CTF 151

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The sixth commander of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151), a multinational coalition naval anti-piracy unit under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), has been appointed.

According to the Navy on the 23rd, Rear Admiral Ko Seung-beom (Korea Naval Academy Class of '49) assumed command of CTF 151 at the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, on the 16th. His predecessor was Brazilian Navy Rear Admiral Nelson de Oliveira Leite.

Rear Admiral Ko Seung-beom (Naval Academy Class 49) is receiving command from former Brazilian Navy Major General Nelson de Oliveira Leite. (Photo by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) website)

The first Korean Navy officer to serve as CTF 151 commander was then-Rear Admiral Lee Beom-rim in 2010, followed by Rear Admirals Jung An-ho, Cho Young-joo, Nam Dong-woo, Yoo Byung-joo, and now Rear Admiral Ko as the sixth.

Established in 2009, CTF 151 is one of four task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces, representing the largest multinational naval cooperation body with participation from 38 countries and organizations. It conducts anti-piracy operations in the waters off the Horn of Africa, including Somalia and the northeastern African region.

At the inauguration ceremony, Rear Admiral Ko stated, "As the commander of CTF 151, I will do my utmost to ensure the success of anti-piracy operations through close cooperation with all related agencies," adding, "I will utilize the lessons accumulated by the Republic of Korea Navy during its operations in the Gulf of Aden."

The experience accumulated in the Gulf of Aden refers to the operational experience gained by the Navy through the deployment of the Cheonghae Unit in the Gulf of Aden. Rear Admiral Ko has served as the Director of Operations Division 2 at the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as the commanding officer of the ROKS Cheonji, and was awarded the Hwarang Military Merit Medal for victory in the Battle of Daecheong.