UnderSecretrary Carter Visits Diyala Iraq

Undersecretary visits Combat Out Post Zaganiyah in Diyala

Multi-National Division – North - DIYALA, Iraq – The Honorable Dr. Ashton Carter, Undersecretary of The Department of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, visited Combat Out Post Zaganiyah in Diyala Province on June 26.

During his visit, Carter was briefed by Col. Burt Thompson, commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade, 25th Infantry Division along with leadership of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, on the process and logistics necessary in the closing of COPs while maintaining security.

Accompanying Carter on his visit was Mr. Alan Estevez, acting Deputy Undersecretary of Defense in

Logistic and Material readiness; Mr. Thomas Dee, Director of the DoD’s Joint Rapid Acquisition cell and Defense Biometrics and Mr. Richard Ginman, Deputy Director of Program Acquisition and Contingency Contracting.

COP Zaganiyah was formerly a school before being transformed into a Coalition outpost, and is scheduled to be formally transferred back to the Iraqi Ministry of Education on June 30.

“I wanted to visit a place in the process of transiting to Iraqi control,” said Carter. “This place is an example of what the rest of Iraq will be going through in the next few weeks and months.”