Ward will lead U.S. Africa Command

Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward, who commanded the 25th Infantry Division from September 1999 to November 2000, has been nominated by President Bush to become the first commander of the U.S. Africa Command.

Ward, 58, currently deputy commander of U.S. European Command, is the active military's only black four-star general. Africa Command is scheduled to come into existence as a unit of European Command in Germany on Oct. 1. A year later, it will become an independent regional command, with Ward answering directly to the secretary of defense and the president, as other regional commanders do.

In a news release, the Pentagon said the goal of U.S. Africa Command is to help build the capacity of African nations and African organizations like the African Standby Force to promote peace and security and to respond to crises on the continent.

While commanding the 25th Division, Ward was credited for showing up at neighborhood board meetings in Leeward Oahu. Ward impressed Waianae Coast residents when he showed up for a 4 a.m. ceremony in Makua Valley for the signing of an agreement that gave a community group access to Ukanipo Heiau, adjacent to the Makua Military Reservation. He has served as security coordinator in the Middle East and was commander of the NATO peacekeeping force in Bosnia.

The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Buffalo (SSN 715) left Pearl Harbor Monday for its new homeport in Guam, where it will join Submarine Squadron 15.

The Buffalo has been homeported at Pearl Harbor since 1984. The submarine is the Navy's 25th Los Angeles-class attack submarine. Its keel was laid on Jan. 25, 1980, and the sub was launched by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry-dock Co. in Newport News, Va., on May 8, 1982.

The Buffalo will replace the USS San Francisco (SSN 711), which was transferred to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to undergo repairs after hitting an underwater sea mount in January 2001.

"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.