Rear Adm. Golightly, U.S. Coast Guard Assumes Command of Joint Interagency Task Force West

CAMP H.M. Smith, Hawaii – Joint Interagency Task Force West (JIATF West) held a change of command ceremony Aug. 28, 2026, at U.S. Pacific Command (US PACOM) headquarters on Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. During the ceremony, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Benjamin Golightly relieved U.S. Navy Capt. George Howell as director of the task force.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Drowley, Chief of Staff of US PACOM, presided over the ceremony and commended Howell’s exemplary leadership during his tenure as director.

During his remarks, Drowley highlighted the critical importance of the JIATF West mission and praised Howell’s specific achievements, specifically the thousands of kilograms of illicit narcotics and precursor chemicals seized under Howell’s direction, the deep partner nation relationships established, the expansion of operational fusion centers, and the strategic deployment of analysts to support law enforcement. Drowley stated the command was grateful to have benefited from Howell’s leadership, while also warmly welcoming Golightly to join the team. Following Drowley’s remarks, Howell addressed JIATF West for the final time expressing deep gratitude to the personnel he led.

“To every member of JIATF West, military, civilian, law enforcement, and contractor, please know that I have seen your commitment. I have seen you adapt. I have seen you take care of one another, and I have been profoundly proud to serve beside you.”

Under Howell’s leadership, JIATF West worked closely with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies to disrupt drug trafficking networks, seizing more than 16,000 kilograms of cocaine, 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 98 kilograms of fentanyl. His focus on disrupting the supply chain at its source led to intelligence that enabled the seizure of 812,000 kilograms of precursor chemicals, including the largest single chemical seizure in U.S. history. Additionally, he expanded collaboration with allies and partners to address threats posed by transnational criminal organizations.

Reflecting on the rapid evolution of the command’s regional counterdrug mission during his tenure, Howell emphasized the command’s future.

“This command has endured uncertainty, transition, and enormous change,” Howell said. “It now stands at the edge of tremendous opportunity.”

Howell, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina and graduate of North Carolina State University, began his tenure as Director of JIATF West in July 2025, and before that served as the Task Force’s Chief of Staff starting in June 2024. He is the first Navy officer to lead the Coast Guard-billeted command. Howell departs as the Task Force’s 21st Director and will next serve as the Senior Defense Officer and Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Norway under the guidance of U.S. European Command. In this role Howell will serve as the principal military advisor to the U.S. Ambassador, representing the Department of War and serving as the single point of contact for all DoW matters within the diplomatic mission.

Golightly assumed command as the 22nd director of JIATF West after previously serving as the commanding officer at the Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center – Atlantic (MIFC LANT). A native of Mayville, New York, Golightly graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in government and earned a Master of Science in strategic intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College in 2003.

Upon taking command, Golightly expressed his gratitude to the Task Force and highlighted the critical importance of the ongoing counterdrug mission.

“Through teamwork, responsible application of resources, and a focus on mission execution, JIATF West will safeguard the American public from the drugs and precursor chemicals flowing toward the U.S. mainland, while targeting the illicit funding streams that fuel the cartels and adversary activities,” Golightly said.

JIATF West, in coordination with U.S. law enforcement, interagency and partner nations, combats, disrupts and dismantles drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations, to protect U.S. lives, interests, and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.

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