General Curtis M. Scaparrotti,  Supreme Allied Commander Europe,  and the new Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Chief of Staff General Markus Kneip,  walk down the red carpet following the COS handover takeover ceremony at SHAPE,  Belgium,  July 12,  2017. - NATO Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Stefan Hass

MONS, Belgium - Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe welcomed its new Chief of Staff during a handover / takeover ceremony at the headquarters on Wednesday, July 12, 2017.

German Army General Markus Kneip, former Deputy Chief of Defence of the German Armed Forces, assumed responsibility from General Werner Freers.

"It is an honour to serve the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the service men and women as well as the civilian members of SHAPE and NATO," said General Kneip. "I'm looking forward to my time at SHAPE."

General Kneip has served in various command positions and has deployed in support of multiple NATO operations throughout his career.

While welcoming General Kneip to SHAPE, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, and members of Allied Command Operations bid a fond farewell to General Freers.

"As I look back on almost 5 years at SHAPE, I am struck by the challenges that we have faced together. Monumental changes in the global strategic security environment have driven us to deliver our strategic military products at an unprecedented pace across a vast breadth of issues, yet still retaining the same depth and quality of thought that has historically been the hallmark of SHAPE's work," said General Freers. "I am proud of the fact that, together, we have never failed to deliver what sometimes seemed impossible," he added.

The Chief of Staff serves as the principal advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander on all matters related to NATO operations, mission, activities and tasks implementing SACEUR's strategic vision.

Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office