RADM Faller Named Centcom Director of Operations, BG Brown Nominated For Second Star

Posted Feb 21, 2012 by Howard Altman

Updated Feb 21, 2012 at 05:43 PM

Less than a year after assuming command of Carrier Strike Group Three, RADM (lower half) Craig S. Faller is finding himself on land as Director of Operations for U.S. Central Command.

As director, he will plan and coordinate operations for Centcom, according to spokesman Maj. T.G. Taylor.

The announcement was made today by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert.

According to Faller’s official Navy bio:

Faller assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Three, May 24, 2011. He most recently served as Commander, Navy Recruiting Command.

A 1983 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a native of Fryburg, Penn., Faller earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering and his master’s in National Security Affairs (Strategic Planning) from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1990.

At sea, he served as reactor electrical division officer, electrical officer and reactor training assistant in USS South Carolina (CGN 37); operations Officer in USS Peterson (DD 969); station officer in USS Enterprise (CVN 65), and executive officer of USS John Hancock (DD 981). As commanding officer of USS Stethem (DDG 63), he deployed to the Arabian Gulf and participated in Maritime Interception Operations in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq. During his tour as commanding officer of USS Shiloh (CG 67), he assisted victims of the devastating tsunami off Indonesia. Other operational assignments included executive assistant to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command and Commander, U.S. Central Command.

Ashore, Faller was assigned to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Plans, Policy and Operations); served as a legislative fellow on the staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy; and as head of Surface Nuclear Officer Programs and Placement at Navy Personnel Command, and as executive assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations.

Faller’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various unit, service and campaign awards.

In other Centcom general news, congrats to Brig. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., deputy director, operations, J-3, at U.S. Central Command.

Brown is one of 25 Air Force generals to be nominated for a second star by President Barack Obama.

Brown graduated from Texas Tech University as a distinguished graduate of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.

According to his official Air Force biography:

He has held various squadron and wing level positions during operational assignments to include instructing in the F-16 Division, U.S. Air Force Weapons School. His staff tours include aide-de-camp to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force; air operations officer, U.S. Central Command; Deputy Chief, Program Integration Division, Directorate of Programs; and later Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He has also been a National Defense Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Va.

General Brown has served as a fighter squadron commander, Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and Commander, 8th Fighter Wing. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. The general is a command pilot with more than 2,850 flying hours, including 85 combat hours.