United Nations Command Hosts Change of Responsibility Ceremony

Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea — United Nations Command welcomed its new deputy commander and bid farewell to his predecessor during a change-of-responsibility ceremony held at Camp Humphreys July 30.

Canadian Army Lt. Gen. Wayne D. Eyre was appointed deputy commander of United Nations Command, replacing U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas W. Bergeson, 7th Air Force commander.

He is the first non-U.S. general officer to hold the post at the UNC since the multinational force was established 68 years ago during the 1950-53 Korean War.

“This (UNC) revitalization is an important move toward transforming international commitment to the Korean Peninsula security,” Eyre said during the ceremony to an audience of dignitaries from the Sending States, Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, U.S. Forces Korea and Combined Forces Korea. “I am excited to execute your intent and help shape this journey toward enduring peace and stability.”

Eyre gave his appreciation to United Nations Command Commander Gen. Vincent K. Brooks for the vision and leadership that is driving the UNC revitalization and accepting and welcoming him and his family here.

Calling the UNC’s role as the “enforcer of the armistice and enabler of dialogue with North Korea,” Gen. Brooks said revitalizing of the United Nations Command is based on demonstrating its value as the continuing home for international commitments, organizing it to operate largely free of Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, and reflecting more of the composition of the sending states from the past while building a structure representative of the work to be done.

“This calls for fewer staff officers from the United States and the Republic of Korea and more from capable militaries around the world who still have an abiding interest in the situation on the Korean Peninsula,” Brooks said in his congratulatory remarks for Eyre. “Today, we witness, for the first time, a key position held by an officer who is focused solely on United Nations Command, neither dual- or tri-hated, and it is the position of the deputy commander.”

Today’s appointment of Lt. Gen. Eyre as the UNC deputy commander will be followed by the position of a chief of staff for the UNC in August and a senior member of the Military Armistice Commission in September or October to meet the transformational efforts for the UNC revitalization program.

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