Lieutenant General Mieczyslaw Stachowiak’s Visit Highlights Strategic U.S. – Poland Military Cooperation

17 November 2009

LTG Stachowiak presenting a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier

Lieutenant General (LTG) Mieczyslaw Stachowiak, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, visited the United States November 1-6, 2009 at the invitation of his American counterpart, General James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  At Fort Sill, Oklahoma, LTG Stachowiak received briefings on the Patriot missile system and long-range artillery and air defense weapon systems.   He also toured the US Northern Command and the North American Air Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, where he discussed how the US and Canada defend North American Airspace and how the US military works with civilian authorities during natural disasters and national emergencies.

At Mac Dill Air Force Base, Florida, LTG Stachowiak discussed cooperation between the Polish and American Special Operations Commands initiated under the historic Memorandum of Understanding signed by Minister of National Defense Bogdan Klich and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates earlier this year in Krakow.  In Washington, DC, LTG Stachowiak’s visit culminated in meetings with Lieutenant General J.D. Thurman, US Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, and General Cartwright, to discuss the strategic relationship between Poland the United States.