Riga named new 7th Special Forces Group commander

Col. Christopher M. Riga, commander of 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) shakes hands with 7SFG(A) soldiers at Soto Cano Air Force Base, Honduras, July 27, 2013. Col. Riga assumed command of 7SFG(A) July 3, 2013, and has been visiting deployed soldiers.

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EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — The Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)’s newest commander is Col. Christopher Riga.

Riga — who enlisted in the Army in 1987 after graduating from Columbia University — has served as commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)’s 1st Battalion and as a military assistant to the Secretary of the Army.

He replaced Col. Antonio Fletcher, who led the 7th Group for two years.

A priority as commander is to ensure his soldiers — great Americans, as he calls them — are taken care of and their families are at home, Riga said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Riga named new 7th Special Forces Group commander