U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Central Command - Change of Command Ceremony

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, incoming commander, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Air Force Col. Larry Martin, Commander 6th Air Mobility Wing greet each other as they wait for Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to arrive on Macdill Air Force Base Tampa, Fla., Oct. 31, 2008, for a Change of Command ceremony. Petraeus is accepting command of CENTCOM.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates puts his hand over his heart while the national anthem is played during the U.S. Central Command Change of Command ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 31, 2008. During the ceremony, U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, formerly the top commander in Iraq, will assume command of CENTCOM.

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, right, and U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, salute the colors during the playing of the national anthem at the U.S. Central Command Change of Command ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 31, 2008. Petraeus will be assuming command of CENTCOM from U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus salutes the colors during the playing of the national anthem at the U.S. Central Command Change of Command ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 31, 2008. Petraeus, formerly the top U.S. commander in Iraq, will be assuming command of CENTCOM from U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates addresses the crowd during the United States Central Command Change of Command ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 31, 2008. U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, formerly the top U.S. commander in Iraq, will be assuming command of CENTCOM during the ceremony.

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus accepts the U. S. Central Command flag from Defense Secretary Dr. Robert M. Gates. Petraeus assumed command from U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey during a Change of Command ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 31, 2008.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates exits the stage after speaking at the U.S. Central Command Change of Command ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 31, 2008, at which U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus assumed command of CENTCOM.

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, incoming commander, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Air Force Col. Larry Martin, Commander 6th Air Mobility Wing greet each other as they wait for Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to arrive on Macdill Air Force Base Tampa, Fla., Oct. 31, 2008, for a Change of Command ceremony. Petraeus is accepting command of CENTCOM.
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David L. Minor