BEMIDJI - A Bemidji State University graduate is being considered for one of the U.S. military's highest command posts.
Late last week, the Wall Street Journal reported President Barack Obama's intention to nominate Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, U.S. Marine Corps, to head U.S. Africa Command. Waldhauser, 62, is a 1976 BSU psychology graduate and former hockey player for the Beavers.
U.S. Africa Command is one of six unified geographic combatant commands within the Department of Defense unified command structure, according to a release issued Monday from BSU. It is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for military relations with African nations, the African Union and African regional security organizations.
The nomination would require confirmation by the U.S. Senate. If confirmed, the Journal reports that Waldhauser would be the only Marine officer in one of the U.S. military's top combatant command posts.
Waldhauser, who is originally from South St. Paul, was the 2013 recipient of BSU's Distinguished Minnesotan award.
