President Trump has nominated a top aide to Defense Secretary James Mattis to serve as the next head of U.S. Southern Command.
The Defense Department said in a press release Thursday afternoon that Navy Vice Adm. Craig S. Faller, currently the senior military assistant to Mr. Mattis, has been tapped for the post. Adm. Faller would replace Navy Adm. Kurt Tidd, and must be confirmed by the Senate.
Mr. Mattis first revealed the choice when speaking to reporters earlier Thursday in Chile as part of his weeklong tour of South America.
Southen Command — better known as SOUTHCOM — is one of the military’s 10 unified combatant commands. Headquartered in Doral, Florida, the command oversees U.S. military efforts and personnel in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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