Champoux becomes 8th US Army commander

Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux took the commandership of the 8th U.S. Army in South Korea in a change-of-command ceremony at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul on Thursday.

He replaces John Johnson who will serve as director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization in Virginia.

Champoux served as deputy commanding general of the 8th Army and assistant chief of staff at the United Nations Command (UNC) and ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC).

About 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com