US Army General Cavoli becomes NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Europe, News July 6, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

United States Army General Christopher Cavoli assumed command as the 20th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) during a ceremony held at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on July 4, 2022.

General Cavoli assumed command from the U.S. Air Force General Tod D. Wolters. The SACEUR is one of the two strategic commanders for NATO and the commanding officer of Allied Command Operations and is responsible to the alliance’s Military Committee for the overall direction and conduct of military operations for NATO.

The ceremony was held at NATO’s headquarters in Mons, Belgium, and was presided over by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

During the change of command ceremony, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said: “You were the right leader, for the right post, at the right time. You leave NATO stronger, and our one billion people safer.”

Chairman of the Military Committee Admiral Rob expressed the importance of SACEUR as NATO’s top military leader by saying: “General Wolters has shepherded SHAPE and US EUCOM through unprecedented turmoil. With his boundless efficiency and energy, he was able to work with both a big-picture vision and microscopic detail. With his relentless work on our ‘deter and defend’ strategy and subsequent plans, he has left NATO stronger than he found it. He will be remembered for being a wartime military leader with a potent blend of intellect, exceptional strategic judgment, impeccable and measured military advice. As well as a leader of compassion, charm and veins of steel. We have all been safer with him at the helm”.

U.S. Air Force General Wolters, who is expected to officially retire from the U.S. Air Force later this year, also made a speech and reflected on his time as Supreme Allied Commander Europe. He also appreciated his team for navigating through some of the Alliance’s most dynamic security threats in history.

“For the last three years, you have sincerely poured your blood, sweat and tears into generating peace. And as the Secretary General said, we’ve had some tough challenges along the way. None were too big and none ever forced us to be in a position to ever relent. It is because of that relentless drive to generate peace that we are in the situation we are today and working very hard to improve conditions,” Wolters said.

^{SHAPE holds a change of command ceremony on July 4, 2022, where incoming Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Christopher Cavoli assumes command from SACEUR General Tod D. Wolters. (Image Credit: NIC Edouard Bocquet/NATO)}

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed General Cavoli as the new commander of the alliance and said, “You join us at a turning point for transatlantic security, marked by rising strategic competition and the return of brutal conflict to Europe. I know you will continue to serve NATO with the same leadership and dedication you have always shown.”

According to NATO release, General Cavoli comes to SHAPE from U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command in Wiesbaden, where he served as Commander of the consolidated U.S. Army Europe and Africa from October 2020 through June 2022. From January 2018 until the consolidation, General Cavoli served as the commander of U.S. Army Europe.