ROK/US Combined Forces Command

Last updated
ROK/US Combined Forces Command
한미연합군사령부
ROK-US CFC logo.svg
Active7 November 1978 – present
(65 years, 9 months)
CountryFlag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Flag of the United States.svg  United States of America
AllegianceFlag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Flag of the United States.svg  United States of America
Engagements Korean Conflict 1978-Present
Website www.usfk.mil
Commanders
Commander UNC/CFC/USFK Flag of a United States Army general.svg GEN Paul J. LaCamera, USA
Deputy Commander CFCFlag of the ROK Army General (OF-9).svg GEN Kang Shin-chul, ROKA
Chief Of Staff CFCFlag of a United States Army lieutenant general.svg LTG Christopher C. LaNeve, USA
Command Sergeant Major CSM Jack H. Love, USA

ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC) is a joint warfighting headquarters comprising the Republic of Korea military and United States Forces Korea. It was established in 1978. During wartime it would serve as the operational command headquarters for all of the South Korean and U.S. ground, air, sea (including Marine) and special operations forces fighting on the Korean peninsula. Since November 2022 CFC has been headquartered at Camp Humphreys, in Pyeongtaek, Korea. Previously it was headquartered at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul.

Contents

The CFC is commanded by a four-star U.S. Army general, with a four-star ROK Army general as deputy commander. This pattern exists throughout the CFC command structure: if the chief of a staff section is Korean, the deputy is American and vice versa.

The American general also serves, concurrently, as the Commander of United Nations Command and Commanding General, U.S. Forces Korea.

CFC's mission is to "Deter hostile acts of external aggression against the Republic of Korea by a combined military effort of the United States of America and the ROK; and in the event deterrence fails, defeat an external armed attack against the ROK." To accomplish this mission the CFC has operational control over more than 600,000 active-duty military personnel of all services, of both countries. In wartime this would expand to include some 3.5 million ROK reservists as well as additional U.S. forces deployed from outside the ROK.

It is important to note that, despite the impression of total American control of the Republic of Korea's armed forces via the CFC, during peacetime the Korean units are wholly independent. Only during wartime would the Korean military come under the operational command of the CFC. [1]

Commander

No.CommanderTermService branch
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1
Gen John Vessey Jr.JPG
Vessey, John W. Jr. General
John W. Vessey Jr.
(1922–2016)
7 November 197810 July 1979245 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
2
John A. Wickham, Jr. (USFK).png
Wickham, John A. Jr. General
John A. Wickham Jr.
(1928–2024)
10 July 19794 June 19822 years, 329 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
3
GEN Sennewald, Robert William.jpg
Sennewald, Robert W. General
Robert W. Sennewald
(1929–2023)
4 June 19821 June 19841 year, 363 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
4
William J Livsey.jpg
Livsey, William J. General
William J. Livsey
(1931–2016)
1 June 198425 June 19873 years, 24 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
5
Louis C. Menetrey (US Army general).jpg
Menetrey, Louis C. Jr. General
Louis C. Menetrey Jr.
(1929–2009)
25 June 198726 June 19903 years, 1 day Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
6
Robert RisCassi 4 Star Photo.jpg
RisCassi, Robert W. General
Robert W. RisCassi
(born 1936)
26 June 199015 June 19932 years, 354 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
7
General Gary Edward Luck.JPEG
Luck, Gary E. General
Gary E. Luck
(1937–2024)
15 June 19939 July 19963 years, 24 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
8
John H. Tilelli (USFK).jpg
Tilelli, John H. Jr. General
John H. Tilelli Jr.
(born 1941)
9 July 19969 December 19993 years, 153 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
9
Gen. Thomas A. Schwartz USFK.jpg
Schwartz, Thomas A. General
Thomas A. Schwartz
(born 1945)
9 December 19991 May 20022 years, 143 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
10
Gen. Leon J. LaPorte (USFK).jpg
LaPorte, Leon J. General
Leon J. LaPorte
(born 1946)
1 May 20023 February 20063 years, 278 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
11
Bell Final Mil Pic.JPG
Bell, B.B. General
B.B. Bell
(born 1947)
3 February 20063 June 20082 years, 121 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
12
Walter L Sharp Official Portrait.jpg
Sharp, Walter L. General
Walter L. Sharp
(born 1952)
3 June 200814 July 20113 years, 41 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
13
Cmd genthurmand official.jpg
Thurman, James D. General
James D. Thurman
(born 1953)
14 July 201112 October 20132 years, 80 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
14
Scaparrotti 2014 2.jpg
Scaparrotti, Curtis M. General
Curtis M. Scaparrotti
(born 1956)
2 October 201330 April 20162 years, 211 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
15
Brooks 2016.jpeg
Brooks, Vincent K. General
Vincent K. Brooks
(born 1958)
30 April 20168 November 20182 years, 192 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
16
Gen. Robert B. Abrams.jpg
Abrams, Robert B. General
Robert B. Abrams
(born 1960)
8 November 20182 July 20212 years, 236 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
17
GEN Paul J. LaCamera USFK.jpg
LaCamera, Paul J. General
Paul LaCamera
(born 1963)
2 July 2021Incumbent3 years, 48 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army

Deputy Commander

No.Deputy CommanderTermService branch
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1
Portrait gray.png
General
Lew Byong-hyun
(1924–2020)
7 November 197818 December 19791 year, 41 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
2
Portrait gray.png
General
Baek Seok-ju
(1923–2017)
21 December 197928 August 19811 year, 250 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
3
Portrait gray.png
General
Park No-yeong
(1930–2012)
8 September 198130 August 19831 year, 356 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
4
Army (ROKA) General Lee Sang-hoon yuggundaejang isanghun (DA-SC-86-08939).JPG
General
Lee Sang-hoon
(born 1933)
30 August 19831 September 19852 years, 1 day Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
5
Army (ROKA) Lieutenant General Han Chul-soo yuggunjungjang hanceolsu (DA-SC-85-06462).jpeg
General
Han Chul-soo
(born 1935)
1 September 198530 August 19871 year, 363 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
6
Portrait gray.png
General
Jung Jin-tae
(born 1934)
30 August 19876 April 19891 year, 219 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
7
Portrait gray.png
General
Na Joong-bae
(1936–2018)
6 April 198927 December 19901 year, 265 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
8
Portrait gray.png
General
Kim Jin-young
(born 1938)
27 December 19903 December 1991341 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
9
Portrait gray.png
General
Kim Dong-jin
(born 1938)
3 December 19919 March 19931 year, 96 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
10
Portrait gray.png
General
Kim Jae-chang
(born 1940)
31 March 199319 April 19941 year, 41 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
11
Portrait gray.png
General
Chang Sung
(born 1939)
19 April 199421 October 19962 years, 185 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
12
Army (ROKA) General Kim Dong-shin yuggundaejang gimdongsin (DA-SC-98-05834).jpeg
General
Kim Dong-shin
(born 1941)
21 October 199628 March 19981 year, 158 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
13
Portrait gray.png
General
Jung Yeong-moo
(born 1943)
28 March 199828 April 20002 years, 31 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
14
Portrait gray.png
General
Lee Jong-ok
(born 1944)
28 April 200010 April 20021 year, 347 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
15
Portrait gray.png
General
Nam Jae-jun
(born 1944)
10 April 20024 April 2003359 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
16
Army (ROKA) General Soon Il-soon yuggundaejang sinilsun (US Navy 040321-N-3614M-002).jpg
General
Shin Il-soon
(born 1948)
4 April 20032 June 20041 year, 59 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
17
Portrait gray.png
General
Kim Jang-soo
(born 1948)
2 June 200431 March 2005302 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
18
Portrait gray.png
General
Lee Hee-won
(1948–2018)
31 March 200521 November 20061 year, 235 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
19
Army (ROKA) General Kim Byung-kwan yuggundaejang gimbyeonggwan (Defense.gov photo essay 071107-D-7203T-012).jpg
General
Kim Byung-kwan
(born 1948)
21 November 200628 March 20081 year, 128 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
20
Army (ROKA) General Lee Sung-chool yuggundaejang iseongcul (ClintonVisitsYongsan).JPG
General
Lee Sung-chool
(born 1949)
28 March 200821 September 20091 year, 177 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
21
Army (ROKA) General Hwang Ui-don yuggundaejang hwangyidon (peru yugguncammocongjang (7445553304)).jpg
General
Hwang Ui-don
(born 1953)
21 September 200924 June 2010276 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
22
Army (ROKA) General Jeong Seung-jo yuggundaejang jeongseungjo (Defense.gov photo essay 111027-D-0193C-013).jpg
General
Jeong Seung-jo
(born 1953)
24 June 201024 October 20111 year, 122 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
23
General Kwon Oh Sung (111205-A-SV709-032 - James D. Thurman, Sung Kim).jpg
General
Kwon Oh-sung
(born 1955)
24 October 201127 September 20131 year, 338 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
24
Army (ROKA) General Park Sun-woo yuggundaejang bagseonu (USFK photo 150510-A-XX625-002).png
General
Park Sun-woo
(born 1957)
27 September 201317 September 20151 year, 355 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
25
Army (ROKA) General Kim Hyun-jip yuggundaejang gimhyeonjib (USFK photo 150917-A-XX625-002).JPG
General
Kim Hyun-jip
(born 1957)
17 September 201522 September 20161 year, 5 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
26
Army (ROKA) General Leem Ho-young yuggundaejang imhoyeong (USFK photo 160929-A-PI620-001).jpg
General
Leem Ho-young
(born 1959)
22 September 201611 August 2017323 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
27
Army (ROKA) General Kim Byeong-joo yuggundaejang gimbyeongju (170906-A-ZZ999-001).JPG
General
Kim Byung-joo
(born 1962)
11 August 201717 April 20191 year, 249 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
28
Army (ROKA) General Choi Byung-hyeok yuggundaejang coebyeonghyeog (USFK photo 190419-A-ZZ999-001).jpg
General
Choi Byung-hyeok
(born 1963)
17 April 201923 September 20201 year, 159 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
29
Army (ROKA) General Kim Seung-kyum yuggundaejang gimseunggyeom (USFK photo 200923-O-D0486-1001).jpg
General
Kim Seung-kyum
(born 1963)
23 September 202027 May 20221 year, 246 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
30
Army (ROKA) General Ahn Byung-Seok an byeong seog (USFK photo 220622-A-D0486-1001).jpg
General
Ahn Byung-suk
(born 1967)
27 May 202231 October 20231 year, 157 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army
31
Portrait gray.png
General
Kang Shin-chul
(born 1968)
31 October 2023Incumbent293 days Coat of arms of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
R.O.K. Army

See also

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References

  1. "USFK Combined Forces Command". www.usfk.mil. Retrieved 2020-04-08.