35th ADA hosts ROK-AF Operations Commander

By Capt. Jonathon DaniellJuly 5, 2016

Commanders share a brief laugh
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Wang Keun Lee, left, commander, Republic of Korea Air Force Operations, and Col. Mark Holler, commander, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, share a brief laugh as they discuss combined interoperability and build the US-ROK partnership at Os... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Building interoperability through partnership
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Mark Holler, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade commander, right, gives a tour of a Patriot firing battery tactical site with Commander, Republic of Korea Air Force Operations, Lt. Gen. Wang Keun Lee, with members of both staff not far behind. T... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
A tour of the brigade operation center
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Wang Keun Lee, center, commander, Republic of Korea Air Force Operations, and members of his staff follow, Col. Mark Holler, commander, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, as he guides them through the command and capabilities brief in the B... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea - The 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade commander and the South Korean Air Force Operations commanding general joined together at Osan Air Base, South Korea, on June 28, 2016, to discuss combined interoperability of air and missile defense.

Republic of Korea Air Force Lt. Gen. Wang Keun Lee engaged in conversation with Col. Mark Holler, 35th ADA Brigade commander on their strategic partnership, and areas where they can increase the efficacy of their combined relations.

"It was an absolute privilege to have Lt. Gen. Lee visit and evaluate ways we can enhance our joint capabilities," said Holler. "It was a great opportunity to convey how much we value and appreciate our relationship with our ROK partners."

The meeting between the two marked the first time Lee visited the 35th ADA Brigade since assuming command in November 2015. The event included an overview of combat power and discussion on partner capabilities, followed by a tour of the operation center, and concluded with a visit to a Patriot firing battery tactical site.

"We have a strategic mission on the Korean peninsula with a fight tonight reality," said Maj. Anthony Falcon, 35th ADA Brigade operations officer. "Having Lt. Gen. Lee visit our facility and tour our battlespace reinforced the combined power of our partnership with the Republic of Korea."

An enduring mission of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade is improving combined interoperability between U.S. Army ballistic missile defense with all echelons of their ROK counterparts. This visit was the hallmark of a year of successful interoperability and combined training.