News (Media Awareness Project) - US TX: Fort Bliss Drug Force Gets New Leader |
| Title: | US TX: Fort Bliss Drug Force Gets New Leader |
| Published On: | 2000-09-25 |
| Source: | El Paso Times (TX) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-03 07:40:07 |
FORT BLISS DRUG FORCE GETS NEW LEADER
When Brig. Gen. Dorian Anderson arrived in El Paso 26 months ago, he took
over a military counter-narcotics support agency still sullied by the
year-old shooting of a Redford, Texas, teen-age goat herder.
As he relinquishes his command of Joint Task Force Six at 9 a.m. today at
Biggs Army Airfield for a new assignment in Virginia, Anderson leaves with
pride in his team's accomplishments since August 1998 and "without a
negative event."
Anderson is moving to Alexandria, Va., to head the Officer Personnel
Management Directorate for Total Army Personnel Command. He will be
replaced by Col. F Joseph Prasek, who has been approved for promotion to
brigadier general. Prasek is a 1971 graduate of Coronado High School.
"There's less apprehension now than there was before Redford," said Lt.
Col. John Brinkley, JTF-6 deputy director for plans and policy. "Now people
understand our mission more."
On May 20, 1997, a Marine attached to the task force fatally shot
18-year-old Esequiel Hernandez during a mission near the Mexico border. As
a result of the shooting, the task force suspended routine ground
observation and reconnaissance counter-drug efforts.
Brinkley credits Anderson for his willingness to brief visitors and tell
the story of the task force, an 11-year-old Department of Defense
multibranch agency that supports federal, state and local anti-drug efforts.
The task force's missions include intelligence gathering, engineering and
training.
Anderson oversaw more than 900 missions that included the construction of
219 miles of new roads or upgrades and almost eight miles of border
fencing, as well as the training of almost 6,000 law-enforcement agents.
El Paso Border Patrol Chief Luis Barker said his agents benefited greatly
from the work approved by Anderson, such as the construction of roads and
barriers in rural areas.
Bob Snead, president of the El Paso Black Chamber of Commerce, said, "He's
a soldier's general, much like Colin Powell."
Daniel Perez may be reached at dperez@elpasotimes.com
When Brig. Gen. Dorian Anderson arrived in El Paso 26 months ago, he took
over a military counter-narcotics support agency still sullied by the
year-old shooting of a Redford, Texas, teen-age goat herder.
As he relinquishes his command of Joint Task Force Six at 9 a.m. today at
Biggs Army Airfield for a new assignment in Virginia, Anderson leaves with
pride in his team's accomplishments since August 1998 and "without a
negative event."
Anderson is moving to Alexandria, Va., to head the Officer Personnel
Management Directorate for Total Army Personnel Command. He will be
replaced by Col. F Joseph Prasek, who has been approved for promotion to
brigadier general. Prasek is a 1971 graduate of Coronado High School.
"There's less apprehension now than there was before Redford," said Lt.
Col. John Brinkley, JTF-6 deputy director for plans and policy. "Now people
understand our mission more."
On May 20, 1997, a Marine attached to the task force fatally shot
18-year-old Esequiel Hernandez during a mission near the Mexico border. As
a result of the shooting, the task force suspended routine ground
observation and reconnaissance counter-drug efforts.
Brinkley credits Anderson for his willingness to brief visitors and tell
the story of the task force, an 11-year-old Department of Defense
multibranch agency that supports federal, state and local anti-drug efforts.
The task force's missions include intelligence gathering, engineering and
training.
Anderson oversaw more than 900 missions that included the construction of
219 miles of new roads or upgrades and almost eight miles of border
fencing, as well as the training of almost 6,000 law-enforcement agents.
El Paso Border Patrol Chief Luis Barker said his agents benefited greatly
from the work approved by Anderson, such as the construction of roads and
barriers in rural areas.
Bob Snead, president of the El Paso Black Chamber of Commerce, said, "He's
a soldier's general, much like Colin Powell."
Daniel Perez may be reached at dperez@elpasotimes.com
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