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Mattis Taps Vice Admiral as Southern Command Chief

by Carla Babb

   ABOARD US AIRCRAFT --

   U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Craig Faller, the senior military aid for
   Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, will be nominated to lead the U.S.
   military's Southern Command, which overseas military operations in
   Latin America and the Caribbean.

   Members of the media overheard Mattis telling the news to the president
   of Chile and officials in a Chilean delegation in Santiago ahead of a
   public announcement by the Pentagon.

   When asked why Faller was chosen, Mattis told reporters that he
   "understands the mix of diplomacy and high-level decision making,"
   which is important, he said, because "the role of the military is to
   provide options."

   "This officer has commanded an aircraft carrier strike force (and) he's
   been the operations officer of U.S. Central Command in the midst of
   heavy fighting in various locations," Mattis said. "He's been in my
   office (and) he's been one of the officers who was responsible for
   legislative affairs to the secretary of the Navy."

   Faller's nomination requires confirmation from the U.S. Senate before
   he can take up the command post and the promotion to four-star admiral.

   Carla is VOA's Pentagon correspondent covering defense and
   international security issues. Her datelines include Ukraine, Turkey,
   Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Korea.