{"id":409954,"date":"2024-06-18T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=409954"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Joint-Task-Force-Micronesia-holds-assumption-of-command-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Joint-Task-Force-Micronesia-holds-assumption-of-command-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint Task Force Micronesia holds assumption of command ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam\u2014<\/strong>Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, presided over the establishment ceremony of Joint Task Force-Micronesia at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam on June 14, 2024, where Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman assumed command.<\/p>\n

The milestone highlights the significance of the first two-star command in the region in more than 70 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefending this homeland through the vision of the Guam Defense System, commanded and controlled by Joint Task Force-Micronesia is my No. 1 priority. This joint area of operations is critical terrain that enables the success of delivering integrated deterrence,\u201d said Paparo. \u201cBy ensuring our joint force and our joint capabilities are in the right place at the right time, we are able to deliver strong deterrence to prevent conflict. Its strategic importance cannot be overstated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huffman\u2019s role as the senior military officer in the region, will emphasize the Department of Defense\u2019s support to our pacing challenge throughout the region, and bolster relationships with U.S. allies and partner nations in the joint operating area.<\/p>\n

The JTF-M joint operating area will include U.S. territories (Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and Wake Island) and the Freely Associated States, comprised of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur team thinks, acts, and operates differently, while continuing to be an innovative force that deters aggression. Our adversaries will see our accomplishments in the region, and they will see our commitment to strengthening relationships with our neighbors in the region,\u201d said Huffman. \u201cThey will see how our military emphasizes a collaborative vision with our Allies and partners that prioritizes stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific region.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huffman, the son of a career naval officer and a 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, brings a wealth of insight to the role, based on his experience as the recent Commander of Joint Region Marianas.<\/p>\n

The mission of the JTF-M is to synchronize operations and activities across all domains, enabling a robust warfighting posture, while enhancing partner nation capacity. The Task Force will promote regional stability, provide homeland defense, Defense Support to Civil Authorities, and foreign humanitarian assistance through a whole of government approach. (PR)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman exchange salutes during the Joint Task Force \u2013 Micronesia assumption of command ceremony on Andersen Air Force Base, June 14, 2024. During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman assumed command, and will serve as the first two-star admiral in the area in over 70 years. The establishment of Joint Task Force \u2013 Micronesia reflects the commitment of Department of Defense to support our pacing challenge throughout the region and bolster homeland defense<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman delivers remarks during the Joint Task Force\u2013Micronesia assumption of command ceremony on Anderson Air Force Base, June 14, 2024. During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman assumed command, and will serve as the first two-star admiral in the area in over 70 years. The establishment of Joint Task Force\u2013Micronesia reflects the commitment of Department of Defense to support our pacing challenge throughout the region and bolster homeland defense.<\/p>\n

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<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers remarks during the Joint Task Force Micronesia change of command ceremony on Andersen Air Force Base, June 14, 2024. During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman assumed command, and will serve as the first two-star admiral in the area in over 70 years. The establishment of Joint Task Force\u2013Micronesia reflects the commitment of the Department of Defense to support our pacing challenge throughout the region and bolster homeland defense<\/p>\n

-USAF
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam\u2014Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, presided over…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-409954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409954"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409954\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=409954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=409954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}