SENIOR U.S. PACIFIC COMMANDER VISITS NEPAL

February 1, 2006                                                            

The commander of the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), Admiral William J. Fallon, arrived in Kathmandu today for a 24-hour visit to Nepal.  The purpose of the Admiral's visit is to convey serious concern by the U.S. Government at the situation in Nepal, including both the threat posed by the Maoist insurgency and the King's decision just one year ago to sideline Nepal's political parties and establish rule from the palace.

Admiral Fallon, the senior commander of U.S. military forces in the Pacific and Indian oceans, is making his first visit here.  The visit is part of a scheduled three-country tour to Nepal, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. During his visit, the Admiral is to meet with senior Nepalese government, military, and political representatives, and learn more about ongoing developments in the country.

In the American military's operational chain of command, Admiral Fallon reports directly to the Secretary of Defense and the President.  PACOM's area of responsibility includes 43 nations and traverses 16 time zones, reaching from the west coast of the United States to the east coast of Africa.  Some 300,000 military personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps comprise the total force within PACOM. Its headquarters is located at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii.

The U.S. Embassy is coordinating the Admiral's visit.

Biographical summary:

Admiral William J. Fallon was raised in Merchantville, New Jersey.  A 1967 graduate of Villanova University, he received his commission through the Navy ROTC Program and was designated a naval flight officer upon completion of flight training in December 1967.  He has logged more than 1,300 carrier-arrested landings and 4,800 flight hours in tactical jet aircraft. 

He has had a variety of commands of increasing responsibility throughout his naval career.   Admiral Fallon was the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and U.S. Atlantic Fleet, from October 2003 to February 2005, when he became commander, PACOM.

Admiral Fallon is a graduate of the Naval War College, Newport, R.I., the National War College in Washington, D.C., and he has a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from Old Dominion University.  His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and various unit and campaign decorations.

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