JOINT FORCE NAPLES COMMANDER GREETS KFOR SERVICE MEMBERS

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Allied Joint Force Naples Commander, U.S. Navy Admiral Mark Ferguson, and his successor, U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard, visited to Kosovo Force (KFOR) Headquarters and were welcomed by KFOR Commander, Italian Army Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta.

Admiral Ferguson and Admiral Howard were briefed by the KFOR commander and the international HQ staff on the latest development in the current security and political situation in Kosovo as well as the wider Balkans region.

After the briefing, Admiral Ferguson greeted KFOR service members and he emphasized the importance of KFOR in the delicate and complex context of the Balkans and the need to continue to accomplish the mission promoting progress in the region.

At a subsequent ceremony Admiral Ferguson’s flag from his tenure as Commander JFC was lowered and that of his successor raised. Admiral Ferguson inspected a Guard of Honor drawn from the various contingents serving with KFOR. Also in attendance were the Senior Staff Officers and Branch Heads of KFOR HQ in addition to Senior National Representatives (SNRs). Admiral Ferguson was presented with his Command Flag in addition to a KFOR flag to mark the occasion and as a memento of his tenure as JFC Commander.

During the visit, these high ranking officers had the opportunity to fly over the Northern area and to visit the Austerlitz Bridge in Mitrovica. Admiral Ferguson and Admiral Howard also visited the proposed Rotary Wing Deployed Operational Base (RWDOB) adjacent to Pristina airport to view ongoing works being undertaken.

The visit of Admiral Ferguson allowed an introduction of his successor, U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard, as the incoming JFC Naples Commander. The ceremony of the change of JFC Naples Commander will take place in Naples on June 7, 2016.