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CHANGE OF AUTHORITY IN THE INTER-AMERICAN DEFENSE BOARD

  June 19, 2007

WASHINGTON, June 19 - Brazilian Rear Adm. Ellis Treidler Öberg will assume command of the Inter-American Defense Board June 29, during a change of authority ceremony at the Casa del Soldado in Washington. Öberg is only the second foreign official to head the Inter-American Defense Board since its inception in 1942. He succeeds Brazilian Lt. Gen. Jorge Armando de Almeida Ribeiro, Chairman of the IADB since June 2006. Last year was the first time a non-U.S. official assumed leadership of the board in its 64-year history.

Öberg, a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has had a distinguished military career, from successfully commanding two ships (the patrol boat Parati and High Seas Tug Almirante Guillobel) to being the Navy Modernization Program Coordinator for the Directorate General of Navy Materiel. He was an instructor at the Brazilian Navy War College, Commanding Officer of the Southeast Naval Group and the Chief of Staff of Fleet Division Two. He was appointed Rear Admiral in March 2005.

Öberg’s new assignment to the IADB, an international committee of nationally appointed defense officials, and technical arm of the OAS, is a reflection of a new leadership process that began in March 2006. At that time, the OAS officially recognized the IADB as part of its organization.

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LTC MIKE COBB
MC1(AW) C. THOMPSON

Reference: IADB-01-07