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ROK/US Combined Forces Command

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ROK/US Combined Forces Command
한미연합군사령부
Active7 November 1978 – present
(66 years)
Country South Korea
 United States of America
Allegiance South Korea
 United States of America
EngagementsKorean Conflict 1978-Present
Websitewww.usfk.mil
Commanders
Commander UNC/CFC/USFK GEN Paul J. LaCamera, USA
Deputy Commander CFC GEN Kang Shin-chul, ROKA
Chief Of Staff CFC LTG Christopher C. LaNeve, USA
Command Sergeant MajorCSM Jack H. Love, USA

ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC) is a joint warfighting headquarters comprising the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and United States Forces Korea. It was established in 1978. During wartime it would serve as the operational command headquarters for all of the South Korean and U.S. ground, air, sea (including Marine) and special operations forces fighting on the Korean peninsula. Since November 2022 CFC has been headquartered at Camp Humphreys, in Pyeongtaek, Korea. Previously it was headquartered at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul.

The CFC is commanded by a four-star U.S. Army general, with a four-star ROK Army general as deputy commander. This pattern exists throughout the CFC command structure: if the chief of a staff section is Korean, the deputy is American and vice versa.

The American general also serves, concurrently, as the Commander of United Nations Command and Commanding General, U.S. Forces Korea.

CFC's mission is to "Deter hostile acts of external aggression against the Republic of Korea by a combined military effort of the United States of America and the ROK; and in the event deterrence fails, defeat an external armed attack against the ROK." To accomplish this mission the CFC has operational control over more than 600,000 active-duty military personnel of all services, of both countries. In wartime this would expand to include some 3.5 million ROK reservists as well as additional U.S. forces deployed from outside the ROK.

Despite the impression of total American control of the Republic of Korea's armed forces via the CFC, during peacetime the Korean units are wholly independent. Only during wartime would the Korean military come under the operational command of the CFC. [1]

Commander

[edit]
No. Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
John W. Vessey Jr.
Vessey, John W. Jr.General
John W. Vessey Jr.
(1922–2016)
7 November 197810 July 1979245 days
U.S. Army
2
John A. Wickham Jr.
Wickham, John A. Jr.General
John A. Wickham Jr.
(1928–2024)
10 July 19794 June 19822 years, 329 days
U.S. Army
3
Robert W. Sennewald
Sennewald, Robert W.General
Robert W. Sennewald
(1929–2023)
4 June 19821 June 19841 year, 363 days
U.S. Army
4
William J. Livsey
Livsey, William J.General
William J. Livsey
(1931–2016)
1 June 198425 June 19873 years, 24 days
U.S. Army
5
Louis C. Menetrey Jr.
Menetrey, Louis C. Jr.General
Louis C. Menetrey Jr.
(1929–2009)
25 June 198726 June 19903 years, 1 day
U.S. Army
6
Robert W. RisCassi
RisCassi, Robert W.General
Robert W. RisCassi
(born 1936)
26 June 199015 June 19932 years, 354 days
U.S. Army
7
Gary E. Luck
Luck, Gary E.General
Gary E. Luck
(1937–2024)
15 June 19939 July 19963 years, 24 days
U.S. Army
8
John H. Tilelli Jr.
Tilelli, John H. Jr.General
John H. Tilelli Jr.
(born 1941)
9 July 19969 December 19993 years, 153 days
U.S. Army
9
Thomas A. Schwartz
Schwartz, Thomas A.General
Thomas A. Schwartz
(born 1945)
9 December 19991 May 20022 years, 143 days
U.S. Army
10
Leon J. LaPorte
LaPorte, Leon J.General
Leon J. LaPorte
(born 1946)
1 May 20023 February 20063 years, 278 days
U.S. Army
11
B.B. Bell
Bell, B.B.General
B.B. Bell
(born 1947)
3 February 20063 June 20082 years, 121 days
U.S. Army
12
Walter L. Sharp
Sharp, Walter L.General
Walter L. Sharp
(born 1952)
3 June 200814 July 20113 years, 41 days
U.S. Army
13
James D. Thurman
Thurman, James D.General
James D. Thurman
(born 1953)
14 July 201112 October 20132 years, 80 days
U.S. Army
14
Curtis M. Scaparrotti
Scaparrotti, Curtis M.General
Curtis M. Scaparrotti
(born 1956)
2 October 201330 April 20162 years, 211 days
U.S. Army
15
Vincent K. Brooks
Brooks, Vincent K.General
Vincent K. Brooks
(born 1958)
30 April 20168 November 20182 years, 192 days
U.S. Army
16
Robert B. Abrams
Abrams, Robert B.General
Robert B. Abrams
(born 1960)
8 November 20182 July 20212 years, 236 days
U.S. Army
17
Paul LaCamera
LaCamera, Paul J.General
Paul LaCamera
(born 1963)
2 July 2021Incumbent3 years, 155 days
U.S. Army

Deputy Commander

[edit]
No. Deputy Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Lew Byong-hyun
General
Lew Byong-hyun
(1924–2020)
7 November 197818 December 19791 year, 41 days
R.O.K. Army
2
Baek Seok-ju
General
Baek Seok-ju
(1923–2017)
21 December 197928 August 19811 year, 250 days
R.O.K. Army
3
Park No-yeong
General
Park No-yeong
(1930–2012)
8 September 198130 August 19831 year, 356 days
R.O.K. Army
4
Lee Sang-hoon
General
Lee Sang-hoon
(born 1933)
30 August 19831 September 19852 years, 1 day
R.O.K. Army
5
Han Chul-soo
General
Han Chul-soo
(born 1935)
1 September 198530 August 19871 year, 363 days
R.O.K. Army
6
Jung Jin-tae
General
Jung Jin-tae
(born 1934)
30 August 19876 April 19891 year, 219 days
R.O.K. Army
7
Na Joong-bae
General
Na Joong-bae
(1936–2018)
6 April 198927 December 19901 year, 265 days
R.O.K. Army
8
Kim Jin-young
General
Kim Jin-young
(born 1938)
27 December 19903 December 1991341 days
R.O.K. Army
9
Kim Dong-jin
General
Kim Dong-jin
(born 1938)
3 December 19919 March 19931 year, 96 days
R.O.K. Army
10
Kim Jae-chang
General
Kim Jae-chang
(born 1940)
31 March 199319 April 19941 year, 41 days
R.O.K. Army
11
Chang Sung
General
Chang Sung
(born 1939)
19 April 199421 October 19962 years, 185 days
R.O.K. Army
12
Kim Dong-shin
General
Kim Dong-shin
(born 1941)
21 October 199628 March 19981 year, 158 days
R.O.K. Army
13
Jung Yeong-moo
General
Jung Yeong-moo
(born 1943)
28 March 199828 April 20002 years, 31 days
R.O.K. Army
14
Lee Jong-ok
General
Lee Jong-ok
(born 1944)
28 April 200010 April 20021 year, 347 days
R.O.K. Army
15
Nam Jae-jun
General
Nam Jae-jun
(born 1944)
10 April 20024 April 2003359 days
R.O.K. Army
16
Shin Il-soon
General
Shin Il-soon
(born 1948)
4 April 20032 June 20041 year, 59 days
R.O.K. Army
17
Kim Jang-soo
General
Kim Jang-soo
(born 1948)
2 June 200431 March 2005302 days
R.O.K. Army
18
Lee Hee-won
General
Lee Hee-won
(1948–2018)
31 March 200521 November 20061 year, 235 days
R.O.K. Army
19
Kim Byung-kwan
General
Kim Byung-kwan
(born 1948)
21 November 200628 March 20081 year, 128 days
R.O.K. Army
20
Lee Sung-chool
General
Lee Sung-chool
(born 1949)
28 March 200821 September 20091 year, 177 days
R.O.K. Army
21
Hwang Ui-don
General
Hwang Ui-don
(born 1953)
21 September 200924 June 2010276 days
R.O.K. Army
22
Jeong Seung-jo
General
Jeong Seung-jo
(born 1953)
24 June 201024 October 20111 year, 122 days
R.O.K. Army
23
Kwon Oh-sung
General
Kwon Oh-sung
(born 1955)
24 October 201127 September 20131 year, 338 days
R.O.K. Army
24
Park Sun-woo
General
Park Sun-woo
(born 1957)
27 September 201317 September 20151 year, 355 days
R.O.K. Army
25
Kim Hyun-jip
General
Kim Hyun-jip
(born 1957)
17 September 201522 September 20161 year, 5 days
R.O.K. Army
26
Leem Ho-young
General
Leem Ho-young
(born 1959)
22 September 201611 August 2017323 days
R.O.K. Army
27
Kim Byung-joo
General
Kim Byung-joo
(born 1962)
11 August 201717 April 20191 year, 249 days
R.O.K. Army
28
Choi Byung-hyeok
General
Choi Byung-hyeok
(born 1963)
17 April 201923 September 20201 year, 159 days
R.O.K. Army
29
Kim Seung-kyum
General
Kim Seung-kyum
(born 1963)
23 September 202027 May 20221 year, 246 days
R.O.K. Army
30
Ahn Byung-suk
General
Ahn Byung-suk
(born 1967)
27 May 202231 October 20231 year, 157 days
R.O.K. Army
31
Kang Shin-chul
General
Kang Shin-chul
(born 1968)
31 October 2023Incumbent1 year, 34 days
R.O.K. Army

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "USFK Combined Forces Command". www.usfk.mil. Retrieved 2020-04-08.