Daniel Yoo, 57, became the first Korean-American to lead the United States Marine division after the Special Operations Command Pacific (USPACOM) appointed him as its major general. The announcement, made last Friday, also makes Yoo the first Marine Corps general to serve as the SOPAC Commander.
SOPAC is responsible for strategizing and leading special operations in the entire Pacific area, including the Korean peninsula. It also partners with the U.S. allies by assisting the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise.
“I’ve been waiting to be in this position for a long time,” Yoo said. “I’m going to be committed to the role that have been served well by my predecessors.”
From Fairfax, Va., Yoo graduated from Arizona State University in 1985 before becoming a Second Lieutenant. He was also the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
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