Regional Support welcomes new deputy commander in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A newly promoted general is now leading the Regional Support Commands of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan that is headquartered at Camp Eggers.

Brig. Gen. Guy T. Cosentino assumed the position as deputy commander of Regional Support on March 2 from Brig. Gen. John J. McGuiness following a Commander's Update Brief.

The transfer of responsibilities was held in the Leaders Conference Room during the monthly meeting for Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, commanding general of NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.

Caldwell told meeting attendees that when McGuiness arrived last summer he wasn't very specific on his guidance for the new command that was being stood up.

"I really don't know," he said he told him. "I just know it (Afghan training requirements) needs to be fixed."

Caldwell then lauded McGuiness.

"Thanks for literally taking something that was nonexistent" and giving it a "vision and plan," he said, adding, "I wish you all the best."

McGuiness said the DCOM-RS has come a long way from what is does now compared to worrying about placement of port-a-johns.

"We'd like to think of ourselves as being accountable," McGuiness said, but DCOM-RS is what it is today thanks to everybody in NTM-A pulling together.

"You all are a talented group," he said, "regardless of the uniform [you wear] or the country you're from. It's been an honor for me to be here."

Cosentino, the new DCOM-RS, previously served as senior policy adviser to the Under Secretary of Defense (Policy), at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

McGuiness had the distinction of heading up this relatively new command in late July 2010. Regional Support is one of five deputy commands under the NTM-A/CSTC-A Afghanistan.

Besides DCOM-RS, the other four commands include DCOM-International Security Cooperation, DCOM-Police, DCOM-Air/NATO Air Training Command/438th Expeditionary Wing, and DCOM-Army.

DCOM-RS has six commands below it - the Regional Support Command - Capital, RSC-North, RSC-South, RSC-East, RSC-Southwest, and RSC-West.

The deputy commander for RS is responsible to provide direct support to NTM-A by resourcing Afghan National Security Forces through constructing facilities, supporting institutional training programs, coordinating designated services, and issuing and sustaining major end items to meet enduring and operational requirements in accordance with Regional Command priorities.

Additionally, the DCOM for RS exercises command and control of NTM-A entities in all regions of Afghanistan to facilitate ANSF growth and capacity development to enable accountable Afghan-led security.

Prior to this assignment, McGuiness was the assistant deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management for the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Acquisition Logistics and Technology at the Pentagon.

Cosentino's education includes a bachelor's in political science, a master's degree in international relations, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and a master's degree in national security and strategic studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.

He is also a graduate of the Senior Service College Fellowship - U.S. Institute of Peace, Armor Officer Basic Course, Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course, and the U.S. Naval Command and Staff College.

His decorations include Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, and Army Staff Identification Badge.

His assignments include being stationed in Germany, Fort Stewart, Ga., U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., Korea, several tours at the Pentagon, and Iraq.

Cosentino was commissioned through the Officer Candidate School in December 1986.