New director named at Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HONOLULU (Oct. 17, 2008) – Marine Corps Lieutenant General (Ret.) John F. Goodman is the new director of the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE).

Goodman recently retired from the Marine Corps after 41 years of service. He previously served as the Commanding General of the Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) from 2005 to 2008. He brings a wealth of experience working in contingency response and operations, contingency preparedness planning and exercises, and international disaster preparedness conferences and exercises. Most recently, he led the U.S. military’s Joint Task Force Caring Response operation that provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma following Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.

As MARFORPAC commander, Goodman also led the development of U.S. Pacific Command’s Consequence Support Force 503 functional plan to address the United States’ military response to the threat of an Avian Influenza Pandemic outbreak in the Asia-Pacific region.

"I am delighted to have been selected to be part of an organization whose mission is to assist the international community to prepare for, rapidly respond to, and effectively manage disasters and complex humanitarian situations,” said Goodman. “I am also extremely pleased to remain part of the wonderful Hawaii community.”

A native of Sacramento, CA, he is a graduate of Arizona State University, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Marine Corps War College and the United States Pinnacle Strategic Planning course. He replaces Gerard “Pete” Bradford III, who officially retired from COE in June.

Established in 1994 by U.S. Congress, the overall mission of COE is to promote excellence in civil-military international disaster preparedness and management, humanitarian response, and peacekeeping operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Located at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) in Hawaii, COE has executed more than 16 education and training events, and supported an additional 27 events in 10 Asia-Pacific countries this year.

Contact: Christine Bergado Morrice (Public Relations Manager), Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance / Tel: +1 808 433 1433 / E-mail: morricec@coe-dmha.org

Lieutenant General (Ret) John F. Goodman

Lieutenant General (Ret) John F. Goodman is the Director of the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE). The Center for Excellence is a Department of Defense organization that promotes excellence in civil-military international disaster preparedness and management, humanitarian response, and peacekeeping operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

COE was established in 1994 by congressional mandate. The center supports the United States Pacific Command’s implementation of its Theater Security Strategy by developing understanding and collaboration among militaries, and military and civilian disaster preparedness responders through conferences, exercises, studies, research and practical application. Through these forums, current and future military and civil leaders from Asia-Pacific nations gather to enhance disaster preparedness knowledge, plans, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping capacity. COE provides a focal point where regional civil and military leaders come together to explore, prepare and analyze their national preparedness plans in order to achieve a greater collaborative capability to rapidly respond to, and manage natural and manmade disasters and complex humanitarian situations in the Asia-Pacific region.

LtGen (Ret) Goodman retired from active military duty in the United States Marine Corps on October 1, 2008, following 41 years of service. His last assignment was as the Commanding General of the United States Marine Forces Pacific. A tactical jet pilot with more than 4100 hours, General Goodman commanded organizations from squadrons through a Marine Service Component, and possesses extensive planning and operational staff experience with organizations up to Regional Combatant Command.

He was the Director of the Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting as well as the Director of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Program. He also served as the Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy at the United States Southern Command, United States Korea Command, Combined United States-Republic of Korea Command and United Nations Command Korea. Additionally, he served as Chief of Staff for the United States Southern Command.

General Goodman has extensive experience in contingency response and operations, contingency preparedness planning and exercises, and international disaster preparedness conferences and exercises. He has participated in numerous disaster response and humanitarian support operations in the Asia-Pacific, as well as the Central and South American regions. He has been a part of, or led, more than 10 contingency operations, most recently leading U.S. Joint Task Force Caring Response, the United States relief effort in response to Cyclone Nargis in Burma. During these relief operations, the United States flew 105 missions delivering more than two million pounds of relief supplies to more than 700,000 affected people. Additionally, General Goodman participated in operations in Vietnam, Kuwait and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

In addition to his operational experience, General Goodman led the development of U.S. Pacific Command’s Consequence Support Force 503 functional support plan to address the United States’ military response to the threat of an Avian Influenza Pandemic outbreak in the Asia-Pacific region. In this capacity, he engaged extensively with Asia-Pacific nations on the topic of avian influenza and their national pandemic preparedness planning.

General Goodman possesses comprehensive strategic, operational, and tactical education, planning and operations experience. His personal military awards include the Navy-Marine Corps Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with two stars, the Soldier’s Medal, the Bronze Star with Combat V, the Purple Heart, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Army Good Conduct Medal.

A native of Sacramento, CA, he is a graduate of Arizona State University, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Marine Corps War College and the United States Pinnacle Strategic Planning course. He also played college football and baseball, as well as professional football for the New Orleans Saints prior to entering the U.S. Marine Corps in 1971.

General Goodman is married to the former Gayle Stevenson, and they have three sons, two daughters-in-law and a granddaughter.