For the first time in more than forty years, a French four-star General is again in command of one of the key military positions in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- General Stéphane Abrial, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
After President Sarkozy of France announced his nation’s full re-integration into NATO (or OTAN for its initials in French), the Alliance responded by asking France to nominate an officer as one of the two Supreme Commanders.
My position is Supreme Allied Commander, Europe or SACEUR as I am commonly called. My command is Allied Command Operations, which means from my headquarters in Mons, Belgium I am responsible for all NATO operations world wide.
The co-equal Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation or SAC-T is located in Norfolk. It is the only NATO command on U.S. soil, and is NATO’s leading agent for change, driving, facilitating, and advocating continuous improvement of Alliance capabilities to maintain and enhance the military relevance and effectiveness of the Alliance.
France nominated, and the Alliance gladly accepted, General Stephane Abrial, the former commander of the French Air Force. General Abrial has an extraordinary and distinguished career.
In addition to multiple command tours with the French Air Force, he has served several times in the United States – including a year at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and another year at Air War College in Maxwell, Alabama. In fact, his oldest daughter was born in Alabama.
He is, in every sense, an international officer. In addition to his native French and perfect English, he speaks excellent German as his wife is of German birth. General Abrial has served throughout the alliance in both Europe and North America, and has a well developed view of international economics, strategy, policy, and, of course, military technology.
- French Air Force Gen. Stéphane Abrial delivers his first address as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation during a change of command ceremony held Sept. 9 on board USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).
The Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, of Denmark, praised and challenged General Abrial, pointing out that now more than ever we need strong leadership in the hard and important work of transformation.
General Abrial’s leadership of Allied Command Transformation comes at a crucial time for the alliance which has 70,000 troops on three continents, including major land deployments to the Balkans and Afghanistan. New threats are emerging, including piracy, cyber threats, and increasing competition in the High North. All of this occurs with a backdrop of declining defense budgets.
Over a hundred years ago, the brilliant British Admiral, Sir Jackie Fisher, famously remarked in a similar era of declining budgets, “Now that the money is running out, we must all think!” In selecting an equally brilliant French General, NATO has found a leader who will lead us all in thinking through transformation.
Comme on dit en français, c’est un jour très important pour la France, mais aussi magnifique pour l’Alliance Atlantique/ As one says in French, this is an important day for France, but a magnificent day for the Alliance.
Read more about Allied Command Transformation
Welcome aboard, Stephane!
Adm. James Stavridis
SACEUR and Commander EUCOM
