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NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

May 15, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-51

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CJTF-HOA TO HOLD CHANGE OF COMMAND

CAMP LEMONIER, DJIBOUTI - Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Commander Maj. Gen. John F. Sattler will turn over command to Brig. Gen. Mastin M. Robeson, United States Marine Corps, on May 24 in a ceremony at the CJTF-HOA headquarters here.

Based upon the experience and insight gained from coalition force operations in the Horn of Africa region, Sattler is being reassigned to serve as the Deputy Commander, United States Marine Forces Central Command (MARCENT).

Sattler has commanded the CJTF-HOA operation since the headquarters was formed to oversee counter-terrorism operations in the region for U.S. Central Command in October of last year. CJTF-HOA arrived in the Horn of Africa region Dec. 12 to

coordinate counter-terrorism activities across an operating area defined as the airspace, land areas and coastal waters of Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Yemen.

Brig. Gen. Robeson takes command of CJTF-HOA after serving as the Acting Division Commander, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Robeson was selected to lead CJTF-HOA counter-terrorism activities based upon his unique experience that includes combat operations in Liberia, Kuwait/Southern Iraq (Operation Desert Storm), Somalia and Bosnia.

Robeson has served with the U.S. Marine Corps' Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) Company. He led operations as the Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment assigned to the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable (22d MEU SOC). He also served as the first Deputy Commander, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Anti-terrorism (4th MEB [AT]) - the U.S. Marine Corps' standing anti-terrorism force, established after the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Additionally, Robeson was the Military Assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense from 1998 to 2000.

Sattler and Robeson will meet with host nation governmental and military leaders in Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Yemen in the coming days to ensure a smooth command transition for CJTF-HOA and coalition partners across the Horn of Africa region.

Under Sattler's command CJTF-HOA has developed a secure operating environment for coalition forces in Djibouti. The CJTF has designed a command and control structure for executing counter-terrorism operations, developed an intelligence picture that focuses those operations and developed an information-sharing network with coalition partners to support counter-terrorism operations across the Horn of Africa region.

Additionally, Sattler oversaw the transition of the CJTF headquarters from its flagship, USS Mount Whitney, to its new expeditionary home at Camp Lemonier.

Under Brig. Gen. Robeson, the CJTF mission will remain focused on detecting, disrupting and defeating transnational terrorism in conjunction with coalition partners across the Horn of Africa, thereby contributing to long-term security and stability within the region.
Along with the arrival of the new commander and the move of the CJTF headquarters to Camp Lemonier, CJTF-HOA has added both personnel and capabilities to the operation in the past month in preparation for future counter-terrorism activities.
More than 300 forces have arrived from the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion, Miami, Fla., 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-461, New River, N.C. The total CJTF-HOA contingent at Camp Lemonier now numbers more than 1,800, representing all branches of the U.S. armed services, coalition military members and civilian personnel.