By the U.S. Pacific Command Public Affairs Office
CAMP SMITH, Hawaii – Coast Guard Rear Adm. Steven H. Ratti, the former chief of staff for Coast Guard Atlantic Area, will become the director of Joint Interagency Task Force West during a ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. July 31, 2008, on the Special Operations Command – Pacific parade field.
Ratti will replace Coast Guard Rear Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, who will become the commander of the 11th Coast Guard District, Alameda, Calif.
Navy Adm. Timothy Keating, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, will officiate the ceremony and serve as the guest speaker.
Both Ratti and Zukunft will be available for interviews following the ceremony.
JIATF-W is located on Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, and is the executive agent for Department of Defense support to counterdrug initiatives in the USPACOM area of responsibility. JIATF West consists of approximately 149 uniformed and civilian members of all five military services, the national intelligence community, U.S. federal law enforcement agencies and law enforcement liaison officers from various Asia-Pacific nations.
Interested media should arrive at the Camp Smith gate no later than 8:45 a.m.