U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC) on Monday, taking over from U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez.

Gen. David Petraeus, ISAF commander, presided over the ceremony at IJC’s Kabul International Airport headquarters. He praised Rodriguez as “the operational architect of the campaign plan that has guided the progress of the past year,” according to a news release.

Rodriguez was named the first IJC commander in October 2009, and from January 2007 to April 2008 was commander of Regional Command - East, handling some of the toughest terrain in Afghanistan.

Rodriguez has been nominated for a fourth star and to take command of U.S. Army Forces Command.

Quoted in the news release, Rodriguez offered high praise for the future IJC commander.

“Lt. Gen. Scaparrotti is a superb leader and a proven counterinsurgent,” he said. “He has first-hand knowledge of Afghanistan’s complexities having led the fight in Regional Command - East. There is no better man to lead the operational fight.”

Scaparrotti comes to IJC from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., where he served as commander of I Corps. The general has served in Iraq, and this is his second tour in Afghanistan.

“I’m humbled to be the new IJC commander and honored to be a part of the team with our Afghan counterparts,” Scaparrotti said.

IJC is responsible for the day-to-day operations in Afghanistan. The command is also responsible for forming partnerships with the Afghan National Security Forces and Afghan institutions to help achieve a stability that will prevent insurgent and violent extremist groups from re-establishing roots in the country.

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