Special Operations Command Central welcomes new commander

By Tech Sgt. Angelita Lawrence, U.S. Special Operations CommandOctober 29, 2015

Special Operations Command Central welcomes new commander
Maj. Gen. Darsie D. Rogers (right), Special Operations Command Central commanding general, accepts the SOCCENT colors from Gen. Joseph L. Votel (left), U.S. Special Operations Command commanding general, during a change of command ceremony at SOCCENT... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael K. Nagata relinquished command of Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) to U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Darsie D. Rogers during a ceremony at SOCCENT Headquarters Oct. 28.

Nagata has commanded SOCCENT since June 2013 and served as the Director, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force -- Syria, since its inception in October 2014. He led SOCCENT during a period of high operational tempo, with unit members deploying to numerous countries within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during his tenure.

Nagata will serve temporarily at Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. An update regarding his next position will be announced by the U.S. Army and Department of Defense in the near future.

Rogers comes to SOCCENT from his previous assignment as commander, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.

His previous Special Forces assignments include deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command and detachment, company, battalion, and group command in 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, Colo. He also served as the commander, Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command, Iraq; United States Forces, Iraq; Operation New Dawn, Iraq; and as the deputy commanding general (Support), 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson. He deployed several times in support of Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.