U.S. Service members load pallets in a C130J Super Hercules to be airlifted out of Somalia under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz Dec. 23, 2020, in Somalia. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster loadmasters from the 435th Contingency Response Group offload supplies that are delivered on behalf of Joint Task Force - Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) Dec. 24, 2020, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Peter Thompson)

U.S. service member load a pallet into a C-130J Super Hercules during an operation under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) in Somalia Dec. 18, 2020. The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

A U.S. Army soldier protects a C130J Super Hercules while others load a vehicle into a C-130J during an operation under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) in Somalia Dec. 18, 2020. The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

A U.S. Service member protects a C130J Super Hercules while its being loaded under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) in Somalia Dec. 23, 2020. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

Abraham Kipligat in the Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 9, 2020. Kipligat, a Iowa National Guard Soldier and Red Bull, is currently serving an a infantryman with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment. (Minnesota National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sirrina Martinez)

Julius Kiplagat, Abrahams father, in his police uniform when he worked for the Municipal Council of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya, circa 1998. Julius worked for the council from 1998-2009 before moving his family to the United States. (Photo courtesy of Abraham Kiplagat)

Julius Kiplagat, Abrahams father, in his police uniform when he worked for the Municipal Council of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya, circa 1998. Julius worked for the council from 1998-2009 before moving his family to the United States. (Photo courtesy of Abraham Kiplagat)

Abraham Kipligat (center) with his father Julius and sister Mercy after Kiplagat’s graduation from One Station Unit Training, Fort Benning, Georgia, Jan. 10, 2018. Kipligat joined the Iowa National Guard in 2017 as an infantryman. (Photo courtesy of Spc. Abraham Kipligat)

U.S. Army Soldiers from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) board a C-130J Super Hercules Jan. 20, 2021, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The EARF exercise demonstrates the ability to respond across a wide range of military operations, including crisis response, protection of U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities, disaster relief, personnel recovery, humanitarian assistance, and other missions as directed by U.S. Africa Command as well as a continued commitment to U.S. partners in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

U.S. Army Soldiers from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) board a C-130J Super Hercules Jan. 20, 2021, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The EARF exercise demonstrates the ability to respond across a wide range of military operations, including crisis response, protection of U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities, disaster relief, personnel recovery, humanitarian assistance, and other missions as directed by U.S. Africa Command as well as a continued commitment to U.S. partners in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

A U.S. Army soldier from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) stands guard at a guard post with an Ugandan soldier Jan. 20, 2021 in Somalia. The EARF is a rapid deployment force with the ability to protect U.S. citizens and diplomatic facilities, provide non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations, on the African continent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

U.S. Army Soldiers from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) board a C-130J Super Hercules Jan. 20, 2021, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The EARF exercise demonstrates the ability to respond across a wide range of military operations, including crisis response, protection of U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities, disaster relief, personnel recovery, humanitarian assistance, and other missions as directed by U.S. Africa Command as well as a continued commitment to U.S. partners in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

U.S. Army soldiers from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) walk towards a C-130J Super Hercules Jan. 21, 2021, in Somalia. The EARF is a rapid deployment force with the ability to protect U.S. citizens and diplomatic facilities, provide non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations, on the African continent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

U.S. Army soldiers from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) prepare to board a C-130J Super Hercules Jan. 21, 2021, in Somalia. The EARF exercise demonstrates the ability to respond across a wide range of military operations, including crisis response, protection of U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities, disaster relief, personnel recovery, humanitarian assistance, and other missions as directed by U.S. Africa Command as well as a continued commitment to U.S. partners in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

A U.S. Army Soldier from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) exit a C-130J Super Hercules Jan. 20, 2021, in Somalia. The EARF exercise demonstrates the ability to respond across a wide range of military operations, including crisis response, protection of U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities, disaster relief, personnel recovery, humanitarian assistance, and other missions as directed by U.S. Africa Command as well as a continued commitment to U.S. partners in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

U.S. Army Soldiers from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) walk off a C-130J Super Hercules Jan. 20, 2021, in Somalia. The EARF exercise demonstrates the ability to respond across a wide range of military operations, including crisis response, protection of U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities, disaster relief, personnel recovery, humanitarian assistance, and other missions as directed by U.S. Africa Command as well as a continued commitment to U.S. partners in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

A U.S. Army soldier from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) creates a range card from a lookout point Jan. 21, 2021, in Somalia. The EARF exercise demonstrates the ability to respond across a wide range of military operations, including crisis response, protection of U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities, disaster relief, personnel recovery, humanitarian assistance, and other missions as directed by U.S. Africa Command as well as a continued commitment to U.S. partners in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

U.S. Army Soldiers from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) exit a C-130J Super Hercules Jan. 20, 2021, in Somalia. The EARF exercise demonstrates the ability to respond across a wide range of military operations, including crisis response, protection of U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities, disaster relief, personnel recovery, humanitarian assistance, and other missions as directed by U.S. Africa Command as well as a continued commitment to U.S. partners in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), and members of the CJTF-HOA staff virtually attend the 2021 African Chiefs of Defense Conference hosted by U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, Jan. 27, 2021. The purpose of the conference was to discuss key security challenges and opportunities and to work together to improve security, stability, and prosperity in Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), Rolf Olson, Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD), CJTF-HOA, U.S Army Maj. Raffi Mnatzakanian, campaign planner, Uganda Army Lt. Col. Alex Namara, foreign liaison officer (FLO) and Kenyan Air Force Lt. Col. Irene Machangoh, FLO, virtually attend the 2021 African Chiefs of Defense Conference hosted by U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, Jan. 27, 2021. The purpose of the conference was to discuss key security challenges and opportunities and to work together to improve security, stability, and prosperity in Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), and members of the CJTF-HOA staff virtually attend the 2021 African Chiefs of Defense Conference hosted by U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, Jan. 27, 2021. The purpose of the conference was to discuss key security challenges and opportunities and to work together to improve security, stability, and prosperity in Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

Commanding General

Command Senior Enlisted Leader

Foreign Policy Advisor

Leaders from the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), tour the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, Jan. 22, 2021, at Port de Djibouti, Djibouti. Just like the senior leaders, the USS HWW also works alongside mission partners in support of maritime operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), receives a plaque from the leadership team on the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, Jan. 22, 2021, at Port de Djibouti, Djibouti. Flora along with other senior leaders learned about the history of the USS HWW as well as the service member it was named after. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), Ms. Andrea Tomaszewicz, acting ambassador, U.S. embassy in Djibouti, and U.S. Navy Capt. Kyle Schuman, commanding officer, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), learn about the history of the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, Jan. 22, 2021, at Port de Djibouti, Djibouti. The senior leaders learned about the history of the USS HWW as well as the service member it was named after. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage)

Leaders from the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), tour the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, Jan. 22, 2021, at Port de Djibouti, Djibouti. The USS HWW conducts U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) missions and support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage)

U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Jeremy Byrd, senior enlisted leader, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, talks with U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Alex Hebert, command senior enlisted leader, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), Jan. 22, 2021, at Port de Djibouti, Djibouti. The USS HWW recently began its first deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage)

U.S. Navy Capt. Kyle Schuman, commanding officer, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CJDJ), talks with Ms. Andrea Tomaszewicz, acting ambassador, U.S embassy in Djibouti, during a tour of the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams”, Jan. 22, 2021, at Port de Djibouti, Djibouti. Senior leaders from Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), and the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, were given the opportunity to learn about capabilities and day-to-day operations during the tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage)

U.S. Navy Capt. David Gray, commanding officer, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (USS HWW), begins the tour of the ship, Jan. 22, 2021, at Port de Djibouti, Djibouti. Senior leaders from Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), and the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, were given the opportunity to learn about capabilities and day-to-day operations during the tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage)

The USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (USS HWW) conducts a port visit, Jan. 22, 2021, at Port de Djibouti, Djibouti. The USS HWW supports maritime missions in the Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), meets with Djiboutian Gen. Taher Ali Mohamed, Djiboutian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, at CJTF-HOA headquarters, Jan. 25, 2021. The meeting allowed conversations to talk through discussion points for the upcoming U.S. Africa Command hosted African Chief of Defense conference. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), meets with Djiboutian Gen. Taher Ali Mohamed, Djiboutian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, at CJTF-HOA headquarters, Jan. 25, 2021. The meeting allowed conversations to talk through discussion points for the upcoming U.S. Africa Command hosted African Chief of Defense conference. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), takes a photo with Djiboutian Gen. Taher Ali Mohamed, Djiboutian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, at CJTF-HOA headquarters, Jan. 25, 2021. The meeting allowed conversations to talk through discussion points for the upcoming U.S. Africa Command hosted African Chief of Defense conference. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), speaks to a group of service members during an award ceremony, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), meets with U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan Bohner, commander, 449th Air Expeditionary Group, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan. 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commanding general, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, AFRICOM, recognizes top performers at an award ceremony, Jan. 15, 2021, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)