Washington D.C. — The military announced Monday that President Obama has nominated General Raymond T. Odierno to head Joint Forces Command (JFCOM). Odierno is a four-star general who serves now as the head of US Forces – Iraq.
If confirmed by the senate, Odierno will replace Marine Corps General James Mattis, and will be responsible for overseeing more than 1.16 million men and women. Unlike other combatant commands that focus on specific areas like the Middle East or Europe, JFCOM reaches all military services and commands.
Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, JFCOM’s real purpose is to train U.S. military services around the the world to work in tandem. It ensures equipment is sent to the right places and provides military to military coordination with other countries.
It’s unclear when Odierno will leave his post as top general in Iraq, although officials in the Pentagon are speculating it could happen around the Fall of 2010. General Llyod Austin was nominated last week to replace Odierno in Iraq.
General Odierno served as second in command under General David Petraeus during the Iraq surge in 2007 and took command of those forces in September of 2008 when Petraeus left to lead Central Command.
Odierno is a highly decorated general with multiple service and achievement medals, including the State Department highest award, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal.
Odierno met with the Secretary Gates Monday in the Pentagon.
Fox News has reported on several occasions that the next biggest test for U.S. Forces – Iraq will be to meet President Obama’s deadline of reducing to 50,000 troops by September 1, 2010. With 94,000 troops in Iraq now, the U.S. will have to remove 44,000 of them in less than 15 weeks.