Supreme Allied Commander Europe


The Supreme Allied Commander Europe is the commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Allied Command Operations and head of ACO's headquarters, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. The commander is based at SHAPE in Casteau, Belgium. SACEUR is the second-highest military position within NATO, below only the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee in terms of precedence.
SACEUR has always been held by a U.S. military officer, and the position is dual-hatted with that of Commander of United States European Command.
The current SACEUR is General Tod D. Wolters of the United States Air Force.

Role

List of holders

Since 2003 the Supreme Allied Commander Europe has also served as the head of Allied Command Europe and the head of Allied Command Operations.
The officeholders have been:

Deputy

The position of Deputy Supreme Allied Command Europe – since 2003 known as deputy head of Allied Command Operations – has been held by the following officers. From January 1978 until June 1993 there were two DSACEURs, one British and one German, but from July 1993 this reverted to a single DSACEUR.
NamePhotoBranchTerm beganTerm ended
1.Field Marshal the Viscount MontgomeryBritish ArmyApril 2, 1951September 23, 1958
2.General Sir Richard GaleBritish ArmySeptember 23, 1958September 22, 1960
3.General Sir Hugh StockwellBritish ArmySeptember 22, 1960January 1, 1964
4.Marshal of the RAF Sir Thomas PikeRoyal Air ForceJanuary 1, 1964March 1, 1967
5.General Sir Robert BrayBritish ArmyMarch 1, 1967December 1, 1970
6.General Sir Desmond FitzpatrickBritish ArmyDecember 1, 1970November 12, 1973
7.General Sir John MoggBritish ArmyNovember 12, 1973March 12, 1976
8.General Sir Harry TuzoBritish ArmyMarch 12, 1976November 2, 1978
9.General Gerd SchmückleGerman ArmyJanuary 3, 1978April 1, 1980
10.General Sir Jack HarmanBritish ArmyNovember 2, 1978April 9, 1981
11.Admiral Günter LutherGerman NavyApril 1, 1980April 1, 1982
12.Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter TerryRoyal Air ForceApril 9, 1981July 16, 1984
13.General Günter KießlingGerman ArmyApril 1, 1982April 2, 1984
14.General Hans-Joachim MackGerman ArmyApril 2, 1984October 1, 1987
15.General Sir Edward BurgessBritish ArmyJuly 16, 1984June 26, 1987
16.General Sir John AkehurstBritish ArmyJune 26, 1987January 17, 1990
17.General Eberhard EimlerGerman Air ForceOctober 1, 1987October 2, 1990
18.General Sir Brian KennyBritish ArmyJanuary 17, 1990April 5, 1993
19.General Dieter ClaussGerman ArmyOctober 2, 1990July 1, 1993
20.General Sir John WatersBritish ArmyApril 5, 1993December 12, 1994
21.General Sir Jeremy MackenzieBritish ArmyDecember 12, 1994November 30, 1998
22.General Sir Rupert SmithBritish ArmyNovember 30, 1998September 17, 2001
23.General Dieter StöckmannGerman ArmySeptember 17, 2001September 18, 2002
24.Admiral Rainer FeistGerman NavySeptember 18, 2002October 1, 2004
25.General Sir John ReithBritish ArmyOctober 1, 2004October 22, 2007
26.General Sir John McCollBritish ArmyOctober 22, 2007March 2011
27.General Sir Richard ShirreffBritish ArmyMarch 2011March 2014
28.General Sir Adrian BradshawBritish ArmyMarch 2014March 2017
29.General Sir James EverardBritish ArmyMarch 2017April 2020
30.General Tim RadfordBritish ArmyApril 2020Incumbent