tsai3904
02-01-2013, 11:14 AM
Maj. Gen. Richard Burr salutes with his palm facing out, like he's shielding his eyes from the sun. He wears a wide-brimmed felt "slouch hat" with a brown and green camouflage uniform.
The two-star general in the Australian Defence Force stands out amid the American soldiers donning berets and green and beige fatigues at the U.S. Army's headquarters for the Pacific. But he's responsible for directing their training and exercises as U.S. Army Pacific's deputy commander for operations. The Army is also making Burr their liaison to New Zealand, his homeland Australia and countries in Southeast Asia.
Burr's appointment — it's the first time a non-American has served in such a high-ranking position at a command like this— symbolizes the Army's push to connect more with allies and friendly nations in the Pacific as it implements the Obama administration's policy to "rebalance" national defense strategy toward the region.
Burr reports to Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, a three-star general and U.S. Army Pacific's top commander since 2011. Wiercinski is responsible for most U.S. soldiers in the region, except those in South Korea.
More:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=170820033
Bio:
http://www.usarpac.army.mil/dcgBurr.asp
The two-star general in the Australian Defence Force stands out amid the American soldiers donning berets and green and beige fatigues at the U.S. Army's headquarters for the Pacific. But he's responsible for directing their training and exercises as U.S. Army Pacific's deputy commander for operations. The Army is also making Burr their liaison to New Zealand, his homeland Australia and countries in Southeast Asia.
Burr's appointment — it's the first time a non-American has served in such a high-ranking position at a command like this— symbolizes the Army's push to connect more with allies and friendly nations in the Pacific as it implements the Obama administration's policy to "rebalance" national defense strategy toward the region.
Burr reports to Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, a three-star general and U.S. Army Pacific's top commander since 2011. Wiercinski is responsible for most U.S. soldiers in the region, except those in South Korea.
More:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=170820033
Bio:
http://www.usarpac.army.mil/dcgBurr.asp