MONS, Belgium - U.S. Army General Curtis M. Scaparrotti has been confirmed by the United States Senate as NATO's next Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and will assume command of Allied Command Operations from the current SACEUR, General Philip M. Breedlove on May 4, 2016.

General Scaparrotti is currently serving as Commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea. His most recent appointment was as the Director of the Joint Staff.

He will take up his appointment as successor to General Philip Breedlove, United States Air Force, at a change of command ceremony at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium.

"The US President's nominee as the 18th SACEUR, General Scaparrotti, is a great friend and a superb officer with exactly the right skills and experience for working in international collaborative environments," said General Breedlove.

The SACEUR is responsible, for the overall direction and conduct of global military operations for NATO. During his tenure, General Breedlove's responsibilities included oversight of NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo, implementation of Wales Summit deliverables including the Readiness Action Plan, counter-piracy and counter-terrorism operations on the high seas, and the provision of maritime forces in support of the refugee and migrant crisis in the Aegean Sea. He was also instrumental in working with NATO's valued global partners including those in Europe, the Mediterranean region, the Levant, and in Asia.

The position is normally held by a United States Flag or General officer, who also serves as Commander U.S. European Command. His command is exercised from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) at Casteau, Belgium.

The position was established in 1951 when General Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first SACEUR. General Scaparrotti will be the eighteenth American officer to hold this prestigious post.