CENTCOM Commander Completes 10-Day Trip to the Middle East
TAMPA, Fla. — The commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed a 10-day trip to the Middle East on Aug. 15 that included visits to six countries and to a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating in the Arabian Sea.
Adm. Brad Cooper met with senior civilian and military leaders in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates and spent time with deployed U.S. service members. More than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East supporting various missions.
While ashore, Cooper recognized exceptional performers, reenlisted troops, and presided over the leadership transition for Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). Maj. Gen. Kevin Lambert turned over command of CJTF-OIR to Rear Adm. Liam Hulin, Aug. 11, during a ceremony at the task force's headquarters in Jordan.
While at sea, Cooper met with Sailors and Marines aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for the second time this year. He previously visited the aircraft carrier in February with U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
During Cooper's latest trip, he addressed the entire Lincoln team and thanked them for their tremendous dedication and courage. He also met with junior service members and awarded deserving individuals.
"The Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is a strong team of high-achieving Americans standing tall with immense, justified pride in everything they accomplished," said Cooper. "History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era."
Based in San Diego, Abraham Lincoln departed for deployment in November and arrived in the Middle East in January. The strike group has successfully conducted thousands of combat flights in support of Operation Epic Fury, regional security missions, and the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against Iran.
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