By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Secretary

SEOUL, Republic of Korea -- Defense Secretary William S. Cohen
has announced command selections for U.S. European Command and
U.S. Forces Korea.

Air Force Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, currently vice chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, will succeed Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark as
commander in chief, U.S. European Command, and as NATO's supreme
allied commander, Europe. Ralston will assume the position in
April 2000.

Army Gen. Thomas A. Schwartz, currently commander of U.S. Army
Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Ga., will succeed Army Gen.
John H. Tilelli Jr. as commander of U.S. Forces Korea. Tilelli
is scheduled to retire Dec. 9.

These are the first of several commander in chief positions
opening up next year at the military's nine unified commands,
according to a senior defense official. Based on standard two-
year rotations, Atlantic Command, Central Command, Southern
Command, Special Operations Command, Strategic Command, and
Transportation Command are all due for new leaders soon. Not
affected are Space Command and Pacific Command.

Clark, a native of Little Rock, Ark., served as commander, U.S.
Southern Command for a year prior to becoming European Command's
chief in July 1997. He was due to leave the position in July
after serving a two-year term and a one-year extension. Cohen
elected to cut Clark's extension short by a few months, however,
to retain Ralston, who was slated to retire Feb. 29.

"I made a determination that Gen. Ralston … would be the
appropriate person to fill the SACEUR's position next year,"
Cohen said during a late-July trip to Japan and the Republic of
Korea.

As vice chairman, Ralston is the nation's second highest ranked
military officer. By regulation, the general could only be kept
on active duty for 60 days without assuming another command.
Ralston, who had intended to retire, had made it clear to the
secretary that the SACEUR position was one of the few jobs he
would accept to remain on active duty, the official said.

At a July 28 press conference in Tokyo, Cohen commended Clark
for his outstanding performance in his dual-hatted role as U.S.
European Command chief and NATO's top commander in Europe. The
secretary specifically praised Clark for all his work in
bringing stability to the Balkans.

The Army armor officer was on the team that helped negotiate the
Dayton peace accord to end the war in Bosnia. As SACEUR he's
commanded the peacekeeping force in Bosnia, as well as the
successful air campaign against Yugoslavia to end the killing in
Kosovo. The secretary also praised Clark for commanding the
peacekeeping force in Kosovo, which is playing such an important
role in bringing stability to that province.

Cohen said he chose Ralston as Clark's successor because the Air
Force general possesses the same strong diplomatic skills and
war fighting capabilities. "I believe that General Ralston, if
confirmed for that position, would also bring the same talents
to the position," the secretary said.

Ralston entered the Air Force in 1965 through the Reserve
Officer Training Corps program. His career includes operational
command at squadron, wing, numbered air force and major command
as well as a variety of influential staff and management
positions at every level of the Air Force. He also held a
variety of positions related to the requirements and acquisition
process.

Prior to assuming the vice chairman's position in March 1996,
Ralston served as commander of the Air Combat Command at Langley
Air Force Base, Va. A command pilot with more than 2,500 flying
hours, including 174 combat missions over Laos and North
Vietnam, he holds a master of arts degree in personnel
management from Central Michigan University.

Cohen announced Tilelli's retirement during a July 29 visit to
Seoul. Like his successor, Tilelli headed Forces Command prior
to taking command in Korea. At a press conference following
meetings with local government leaders, Cohen saluted the
outgoing commander, from Holmdel, N.J.

"For nearly three years, General John Tilelli has worked hard
and successfully to improve cooperation and to strengthen our
combined forces," Cohen told reporters. "He has distinguished
himself during some very difficult times. … I want to take this
opportunity to thank him for the extraordinary contribution he
has made to peace and stability."

Cohen said President Clinton will soon nominate Schwartz to
succeed Tilelli. The secretary said the Army four-star is
"another fine military officer" who agrees with his
predecessor's philosophy that strength is achieved through
alliance. "Let me say that our alliance has never been stronger,
and that in large part is also due to General Tilelli's
magnificent services to our country and to the security of the
region," Cohen said.

Prior to assuming command at Forces Command, Schwartz served as
commander, III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas. The St. Paul, Minn.,
native graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1967 and was
commissioned an infantry second lieutenant. He holds master’s
degrees in education, personnel management, and national
security and strategic studies from Duke University, Salve
Regina and the Naval War College.

Schwartz served as a platoon leader and company commander in
Vietnam with the 82nd Airborne Division and as a tactical
officer at West Point. In past tours, he served as operations
officer with 1st Battalion, 31st Infantry [Mechanized]; as chief
of staff, Combined Field Army ROK/U.S.; and as commander of the
4th Infantry Division [Mechanized] and Fort Carson, Colo.