Remarks at the US Milgroup Change of Command Ceremony
June 13, 2008

Thank you all for joining us this morning to mark the Change of Command of the United States Military Group in El Salvador.

I’d first like to welcome Colonel Arie Bogaard, the incoming Milgroup Commander, who is no stranger to El Salvador.  Some of you may recognize him from his prior service here.

Col. Bogaard received his military commission as an Infantry Officer in 1982.  His distinguished military career has included assignments as Executive officer to the chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, and as Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation in Asuncion, Paraguay.   A senior Service college graduate of the Inter-American Defense College, Col. Bogaard also holds a Masters of Arts in Latin American Studies and a Masters in Business Administration in International Management.  He has extensive experience in the Western Hemisphere, including service in El Salvador.

I am sure Colonel Bogaard will have a successful tour here,. 

Now, I would like to share with you some highlights of what I feel has been a truly outstanding record of performance.

Colonel Felix Santiago has been the Commander of the US Milgroup in El Salvador since July of 2002.

Colonel Santiago has led one of the most successful engagement and cooperation relationships in Latin America.  Under his leadership, the Military Group implemented military cooperation initiatives in the areas of civil-military relations, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, military education and security assistance programs that have had an extremely positive impact on El Salvador.

He was responsible for the second largest security assistance program in the Southern Command and led the largest International Military Education and Training Program in the Western Hemisphere.

Under his guidance, the Military Group coordinated and supported many humanitarian assistance programs which benefitted over 240,000 Salvadorans.  Colonel Santiago assisted the Salvadoran Armed Forces in strengthening some of their key capabilities, which enabled them to effectively and efficiently respond to counter-terrorism and counter drug threats, as well as respond to natural disasters and participate in worldwide peacekeeping operations. 

President Saca and members of his cabinet were extremely thankful for the work Colonel Santiago and his team did to accomplish an extremely successful first-ever visit of a Latin American president to Iraq.

I also had the privilege of traveling to Iraq with Felix and seeing firsthand the important humanitarian assistance that El Salvador’s troops are providing to the people of Iraq.  El Salvador is, without a doubt, one of our strongest allies in the hemisphere.

These are but a few of the many successes Colonel Santiago and his team have had over the past six years that has earned him the respect, trust and confidence of the senior military and government leaders of El Salvador.

His leadership is noteworthy and he has earned the loyalty and respect of his team as well as the admiration of the entire embassy community.  He embodies the concept of the soldier-diplomat and it has been a privilege to have him on my team.

Felix, on behalf of the United States Government we thank you for your sacrifices and your unwavering commitment to our nation. 

Good luck to you and your family as you return to the US to assume your new command as the Director of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.