Lt. Gen. Stephen G. Wood, commander of the Seventh Air Force in South Korea, has a new name: Woo Chang-hee. The Republic of Korea-US Alliance Friendship Society presented Wood with the Korean name Monday during a ceremony at Osan Air Base, the Korean Times reported March 24. According to the newspaper, citing society officials, the surname, Woo, was selected partially on the phonetic sound of the general’s last name. Chang signifies the color blue, symbolizing the blue sky, while hee means shining, the Times reported. Together Chang-hee means “an air force hero who reflects the mission of safeguarding the airspace of the Korean peninsula,” the newspaper said, citing the society. Wood is also deputy chief of the US Forces Korea.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.