Foreign Service/Diplomacy Africa Command Commander World
Description of Work:
On October 1, 2007 William "Kip" Ward became the first Commander of AFRICOM in Stuttgart, Germany. AFRICOM is a subunified command under US European command and is the first post devoted exclusively to the African continent. Officials say that the new command will help Africa improve stability and security. The new command did not come without widespead skepticism from African leaders the majority who oppose its development. The emphasis of the program in areas with oil feeds into the skepticism of a program about security and humanitarian development. Ward remains hopeful stating that most Africans don't yet understand what the command is about. In the months ahead Ward has high hopes that his team can "redefine how the US military cooperates with and compliments the efforts of its US, international, and non governmental partners in Africa." He states that it is their intention to build partnerships and enable the work of Africans in providing their own security. In the years to come Ward hopes Africans and Americans will be able to say that AFRICOM made a positive difference. Sources: http://www.africom.mil/ward.asp http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15391861
In June 1971 General Ward was commissioned into the Infantry.

He spent his undergraduate years at Morgan State University where he earned a Bachelors of the Arts degree in Politcal Science. He continued his education at Pennsylvania State University where he graduated with a Masters of the Arts degree in Political Science.

Ward's military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, US Army Command and General Staff College and US Army War College.

Ward has a long line of military service which includes overseas tours in Korea, Egypt, Somalia, Bosnia, Israel, two tours in Germany and a variety of assignments in the US.

Prior to his current poistion as Commander of AFRICOM Ward served as a Deputy Commander at the Headquarters US European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. Previous to that Ward was the Deputy Commanding General/ Chief of Staff US Army Europe and Seventh Army. During that time he was selected by the Secretary of State to serve as the United States Security Coordinator, Israel- Palestinian Authority where he served from March through December 2005.