Major General Virgil L. Packett

Commander SFOR

(NATO, SFOR Web Sites; AFP - 02/10/03)

Major General Virgil L. Packett assumed command of SFOR on 2 October 2003, replacing Lieutenant General William E. Ward. He became the 8th commander of SFOR since its deployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in December 1995.

A US national, Packett attended the Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies, obtaining a master's degree in military arts and science. He also completed a fellowship programme at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

During his military career, Packett has assumed various command positions, carrying out assignments both in the United States and overseas. He participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and the peacekeeping operation in BiH in 1997, and has served as task force commander for humanitarian and disaster relief in Central America.

Packett was nominated for appointment to the grade of major general on 19 June 2001, while serving as the deputy commanding general/assistant commandant at the US Army Aviation Center and School in Ft Rucker, Alabama.

He was nominated for the post of SFOR commander in May 2003, while assistant chief of staff for operations at the regional headquarters of the Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy.

As he took command of SFOR from Ward, Packett said that BiH had come very close to NATO's Partnership for Peace Programme and future membership in the Alliance. "We shall continue to work on strengthening the rule of law, economic reforms, and fighting against crime, as well as to help the process of return of refugees and displaced persons," Packett said, pledging further efforts "to arrest war criminals and terrorists".