NATO announces new head of Norfolk command

BRUSSELS (AP) ? NATO says a French general will take over one of the alliance's two strategic commands.

Air Force Gen. Jean-Paul Palomeros will replace fellow Frenchman Gen. Stephane Abrial, who in 1999 became the first non-American officer to head a major command in North America.

The Allied Transformation Command in Norfolk, Virginia, is designed to develop doctrine and improve the military capabilities of the 28-member alliance. Currently, its focus is maintaining the effectiveness of NATO in an age of austerity and shrinking defense budgets.

Allied Command Operations ? which oversees all military operations, including the war in Afghanistan ? is based in Mons, Belgium. It is headed by U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis, who was scheduled to leave this summer but has been asked to extend his tour.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nato-announces-head-norfolk-command-122617092.html

Ledecky Nadia Comaneci Rebecca Soni Snoop Lion big brother Aliya Mustafina London 2012 Table Tennis