HAGATNA (GUAM PACIFIC DAILY NEWS) — With Guam regularly facing natural disasters and threats, the admirals selected to lead military forces in the region should stick around for longer than just a two-year term, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said last Thursday.
The governor spoke briefly in front of top military brass during a change of command ceremony for Joint Task Force-Micronesia held at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz.
During the ceremony, Leon Guerrero presented an award to outgoing JTF-Micronesia commander Rear Admiral Gregory Huffman, who she called “my good friend.”
But the governor also took a moment to advocate for longer terms for military leadership overseeing forces in Guam and the region.
Huffman, the first ever commander of JTF-Micronesia, leaves after less than a year at the post. It’s the newest and now the highest command in Micronesia.
Previously, Huffman served two years as commander of Joint Region Marianas, the same term each rear admiral before him typically served.
“This is my fourth time coming up here in a change of command stage. I don’t think it’s fair that I have to be adjusting to four admirals and now to a fifth one in my short time as governor,” Leon Guerrero said.
The Guam governor noted that the island has gone through the COVID-19 pandemic, Typhoon Mawar, and regional threats “with only one governor from the government of Guam.”
“But the military had to have four admirals come by to provide that service,” she said.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Governor Arnold Palacios, also attending Thursday, noted he has been in office for three years and is now interacting with the third admiral at the head of military forces for the region.
Leon Guerrero noted that she has raised the concern with “higher ups” in the Department of Defence, asking for at least three- or four-year rotations.
“I know we are a very flexible island people, but it is really very stressful at times,” the governor said. “And my stress is, how would the next admiral be?”
Leon Guerrero said she did get a chance to meet incoming JTF-Micronesia commander Rear Adm. Joshua Lasky on Wednesday, “and I like him.”
“I like his name, ‘Josh,’ because my lieutenant governor is Josh. That’s a good start, but I do look forward to working with you very closely,” Leon Guerrero said.
She said she has appreciated working with Huffman, and his efforts to establish JTF-Micronesia, which has given the island greater outreach and defence.
“Your leadership in the civil and military Coordinating Committee has been very influential,” the governor told Huffman.
“And certainly, very successful in looking at the challenges that we face as a result of the military impact here on our island, challenges like housing challenges, like cyber security challenges, like safety challenges of equality, infrastructure challenges of healthcare and education,” she said…. PACNEWS