U.S. Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, formerly head of U.S. Forces Korea, has formally taken charge of the U.S. European Command, DoD News reported Tuesday.
Lisa Ferdinando writes Scaparrotti succeeds U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, who is retiring after a 39-year military career, and will also assume duties as the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, led the change of command ceremony held Tuesday at Eucom headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.
Scaparrotti said the command will continue its effort to combat aggression in the region, deploy contingency forces, fortify international partnerships and engage in war if deterrence efforts fail, according to the report.
He added several challenges in Europe such as the aggressive behavior of Russia in Crimea, terrorism and the migrant crisis, Ferdinando reports.
