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Logan Native To Lead US Forces In South Korea
By: Gretchen Gregory | The Logan Daily News Editor
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A 1974 graduate of Logan High School is now commander of all U.S. forces in South Korea.
Gen. Curtis “Mike” Scaparrotti was confirmed by the U.S. Senate late Thursday and was promoted to the rank of general at approximately 9 p.m.
At his confirmation hearing earlier this week, Scaparrotti faced challenging questions by members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who were deciding whether Scaparrotti was the appropriate choice for the job.
Scaparrotti was nominated to the position in May by President Barack Obama. Prior to rising to the rank of general, Scaparrotti served as the director of the joint staff at the Pentagon and served as second in command of U.S. forces in Afghanistan from July 2011 to June 2012.
“I think the more influence we have both in the region and internationally… will be helpful in our strategy [with Korea],” he told Sen. Jim Inofe (R-Oklahoma) at Tuesday’s hearing, adding that he’s concerned about Kim Jong-un’s uncertainty in leading North Korea.
In the hearing, Scaparrotti discouraged sequestration in the region “because we have to be ready to fight in Korea tonight. It’s that uncertain,” he said, nothing the seriousness of the threat.
He is married to the former Cindy Bateman, a graduate of the LHS Class of 1977. Scaparrotti is the son of the late Michael Scaparrotti, a World War II veteran who organized the Ohio National Guard Battery A, Second Battalion, in Logan in 1954.