U.S. Forces Korea to Conduct Change of Command Ceremony Published Sept. 29, 2013 By USFK Public Affairs YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea -- Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti will assume command of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea Oct. 2 in a 2 p.m. ceremony held at Knight Field here. Gen. Scaparrotti will assume command of UNC/CFC/USFK from Gen. James D. Thurman, who has served as the commander since July 2011. The ceremony will be co-hosted by the U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and the Republic of Korea Defense Minister Kim Kwan-Jin. Assisting in the ceremony are the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, the U.S. Pacific Command Commander, Adm. Samuel Locklear III, and USFK Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Mahoney. The Hon. Sung Kim, U.S. Ambassador to Korea, will also attend the ceremony. There will be three transfers of colors: one each for the Combined Forces Command, United Nations Command and U.S. Forces Korea. Gen. Thurman will transfer the Combined Forces Command colors to Defense Sec. Hagel and Defense Min. Kim, who will jointly pass them to Gen. Scaparrotti, signifying the transition of leadership of the ROK - U.S. combined command. Gen. Thurman will then pass the colors of the United Nations Command to Gen. Dempsey, who will pass them to Gen. Scaparrotti, signifying the transition of leadership in the unified multi-national command. Finally, Gen. Thurman will pass the colors of U.S. Forces Korea to Adm. Locklear, who will transfer them to Gen. Scaparrotti, signifying the transition in leadership of the command responsible for U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula. Domestic Korean media wanting to cover the event must register with the MND Press Room. International media must register with the Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club (SFCC). Each will be organized in a media pool. Selected pool media members should assemble at Gate 2 at 1:15 p.m. Camera bags and equipment will be checked by Military Police at the venue. The event will be webcast live on www.pentagonchannel.mil and will be aired live on the Pentagon Channel. A transcript of the ceremony, senior leader speeches and photos will be posted at www.usfk.mil following the ceremony. For additional information, contact Mr. Kim Yong-Kyu, Public Information Specialist, at 010-4528-4299 or email: yongkyu.kim6.ln@mail.mil; or Christopher Bush, Public Information Chief, U.S. Forces Korea, at DSN (315) 723-4665, or commercial in Korea 0503-323-4665 or email christopher.i.bush.civ@mail.mil.