Biden nominates Lieut. Gen. Xavier Brunson as new U.S. Forces Korea commander

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated Lieut. Gen. Xavier Brunson, the commander of I Corps, to lead the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), the Pentagon said Wednesday, a nomination ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election.

If confirmed, Brunson would replace Gen. Paul LaCamera who has led CFC, United Nations Command (UNC) and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) since July 2021.

The position for the top U.S. general in South Korea leads the three commands, including the 28,500-strong USFK.

His appointment requires Senate confirmation.

The nomination came as Seoul and Washington have been stepping up cooperation to sharpen deterrence against evolving North Korean nuclear and missile threats, with Pyongyang shunning dialogue and deepening its military cooperation with Moscow.

Brunson has served in various key defense positions, in conventional and special operations forces, according to information posted on the U.S. Army website. His operational assignments have included stints in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in human resource development from Webster University and a Master of Science degree in national security strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)