Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, formerly joint force development director for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has received his fourth star and assumed the role of commander of the U.S. Africa Command, DoD News reported Monday.
Lisa Ferdinando writes Waldhauser succeeded Army Gen. David Rodriguez, who has retired after a 40-year military career, during a ceremony held Monday at the U.S. Army garrison in Stuttgart, Germany.
Waldhauser said he plans to propose “creative and viable†platforms in order to address the diverse challenges faced by African countries, Ferdinando reports.
He assumed the position a month after he appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee during a confirmation hearing on his nomination to lead Africom.
Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Africom works with 53 African countries to address the Ebola outbreak, trafficking, transnational terrorism, piracy and the South Sudan crisis, among other challenges.
“The responsibilities of Africom highlight both the complexity of today’s security environment and the demand for a capable, flexible and responsive joint force,” Dunford said at the change-of-command ceremony.
Waldhauser led the Marine Forces Central Command, a Marine expeditionary force and the 15th Marine expeditionary unit and helped carry out operations in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Djibouti, Dunford said.
