US central, Africa command to change guard

US Defense Department on Wednesday said Central Command and Africa Command will soon change guard as the Senate has confirmed new commanders to the two regional combatant commands. According to the American Forces Press Service, the Pentagon's information arm, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed two Army generals as the new commanders. Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, currently vice chief of staff of the Army, will succeed Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis as the next commander of US Central Command (Centcom). Army Gen. David Rodriguez, who now commands US Army Forces Command, will succeed Army Gen. Carter Ham as the commander of US Africa Command (Africom). Centcom's area of responsibility covers 20 countries in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Yemen. Africom, the newest geographical combatant command, is responsible for operations, exercises and security cooperation on the African continent. Austin and Rodriguez testified together during their confirmation hearing on Feb. 14, with Austin telling Senate Armed Services Committee members that the war in Afghanistan remains Centcom's top priority. Rodriguez said as Africom's commander he would "address the challenges we face, and the opportunities to increase stability on this strategically important continent." Both Mattis and Ham will retire this year. Austin and Rodriguez are likely to take over their new assignments later this month.