The Obama Administration has nominated Adm. Robert Willard to replace Adm. Timothy Keating as commander of US Pacific Command. Willard currently serves as commander of the US Pacific Fleet. There was no word on Keating’s plans. He has served as PACOM boss since March 2007.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.