Admiral James G. Stavridis assumes EUCOM Command

STUTTGART, Germany — The official party for the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) Change of Command Ceremony, from left to right, Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense, Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. James G. Stavridis, incoming commander of U.S. (EUCOM), and Gen. John Craddock, outgoing commander of U.S. EUCOM during the HQ U.S. EUCOM Change of Command Ceremony. June 30, 2009 (Department of Defense photo by David Robinson)

STUTTGART, Germany — Joint Combined Color Guard at U.S. European Command Change of Command Ceremony, June 30, 2009. (Department of Defense photo by David Robinson)

The EUCOM Commander oversees all American forces under the United States European Command and also serves as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, which is NATO’s highest military position.

In that NATO position, Admiral Stavridis will be a partner of Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who recently became the new commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Admiral Stavridis comes to EUCOM after leading US Southern Command since 2006. New York Times profile on who they call the "Renaissance Admiral" here.