Supreme Allied Commander Europe - Definition

NATO military is divided into two commands, Atlantic and Europe. Each has a Supreme Allied Commander as highest ranking military officer. They were known as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).

In practice, SACEUR is also Commander, United States European Command (CDRUSEUCOM), although the two roles may have conflicting interests.

The first SACEUR (1951-1952) was General Dwight Eisenhower. The current (since 2003) Commander is General James L. Jones (USMC), who succeeded General Joseph Ralston (USAF). The Supreme Commander is always an American.

In June 2003 the SACLANT organisation was decomissioned and Allied Command Transformation was established. This is a transitory command, intended to reshape the NATO command structure to respond to rapidly changing world situations and technology. The commander of the new organisation is Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., U.S. Navy. The headquarters of ACT is at the old SACLANT headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

See also

• Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps

External link

• ACT homepage (http://www.act.nato.int)