Joint Task Force Guantanamo Change of Command

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Lance Okamura relinquished command of Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) to U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Scott Hiipakka, during a ceremony Oct. 21, 2022, at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

The ceremony was presided by the Military Deputy Commander for U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Andrew A. Croft.

"I am truly honored, privileged and proud to serve as the newest Commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, one of the most important no-fail missions in the U.S. military today," said Hiipakka. "I look forward to learning from our JTF warfighters and serving alongside them, as we uphold our mission to conduct the safe, humane legal care and custody of detainees."

Brig. Gen. Hiipakka is the second military police (MP) general officer to command JTF-GTMO since its inception in 2002 and has previously served as the Commander-177 Military Police Brigade and Land Component Commander for the Michigan Army National.

He is the 18th commander of JTF-GTMO, and the second Army General to lead the organization since 2006.