Retired Marine general named assistant secretary of defense for Asian affairs

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has named a retired Marine general as assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific affairs, the Pentagon said Friday.

"Obama announced his intent to name retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Wallace
???Chip??? Gregson Jr. as assistant secretary for Asian and Pacific security
affairs," the Pentagon said on its Web site.
Gregson retired from the Marine Corps in 2005 after 37 years of service.
He has been a foreign policy and military affairs consultant for WCG & Associates
International since 2006. He also served as chief operating officer for the U.S.
Olympic Committee.
He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Naval War College.
Gregson is said to be well acquainted with North Korean affairs as former
commander of Marine Corps Forces Pacific and Marine Corps Bases in Japan, a job
that includes operations on the Korean Peninsula.
He is among a group of retired generals who demanded the resignation of then
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in 2006, holding him responsible for the
U.S. failure in the war in Iraq.
He must undergo a Senate confirmation hearing in the coming months before taking
office.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)