FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- Gen. Charles A. Flynn assumed command of U.S. Army Pacific from Gen. Paul J. LaCamera in a ceremony held June 4, 2021, on Historic Palm Circle at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
Flynn comes to Fort Shafter after serving as deputy chief of staff for U.S. Army operations, plans and training at the Pentagon. He succeeds LaCamera, who was confirmed last month by the U.S. Senate to be the next U.S. Forces Korea commanding general.
Flynn’s return to Hawaii is a homecoming, as he commanded the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks from 2014-2016 and served as U.S. Army Pacific deputy commanding general from 2016-2018.
“From the President and the Secretary of Defense to the combatant commands and the Chief, our nation’s defense leaders have directed that we must think, act, and operate differently – and in so doing – we will as history’s taught us time and again – more effectively compete, deter, and if necessary, win in the Indo-Pacific.”
Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, presided over the ceremony and reflected on the significance of this command.
“U.S. Army Pacific Command is a vital part of our approach to generate a lethal, Combined Joint Force, distributed west of the International Date Line that can be protected, sustained, and capable of fully integrating with all of our allies and partners,” he said.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville expressed confidence that Flynn will lead U.S. Army Pacific’s men and women to continued success.
“I know that General Flynn will continue to make sure that this command and these soldiers are ready to fight tonight and continue the momentum of delivering new capabilities for the future. General Flynn is a proven leader that can work in an inter-agency, multi-national environment. He understands the importance of this region,” McConville said.
McConville also thanked Gen. LaCamera for his dedication and devotion to U.S. Army Pacific and the great team he assembled during his tenure.
“I could not be more proud of the men and women of the U.S. Army Pacific for all you have accomplished over the last couple of years, especially this last year despite many significant challenges,” said McConville. “You remained responsive to our allies and partners in times of crisis and natural disasters. You truly understand how critical your efforts are for a nation, and you maintained that sense of urgency no matter what adversity you faced.”
LaCamera, who took command of U.S. Army Pacific in November 2019, is slated to replace Gen. Robert Abrams as the next United Nations Command, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea commander.
“Maintaining a world class Army is critical to regional security in the Indo-Pacific. My predecessors and I were dedicated to that, and I know General Flynn will take it to the next level,” said LaCamera. “Our Soldiers are serving in some of the most remote and austere locations in the Indo-Pacific and building trust and capability with our allies and partners. We learn from each other; we build combat readiness together. Building trust with like-minded allies and partners is critical to preserving this free and open Indo-Pacific.”
In addition to commanding an infantry division in Hawaii, Flynn commanded troops at the battalion and brigade levels with the famed 82nd Airborne Division, serving combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Flynn is the 38th commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, the largest service component command in the U.S. Army.