SACEUR hosts townhall to discuss NATO Command Structure Adaptation

General Curtis M. Scaparrotti,  Supreme Allied Commander Europe,  speaks to personnel during a townhall meeting alongside General Markus Kneip,  the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe chief of staff,  and Brigadier General Efthymios Kordoroumpas,  the SHAPE personnel officer in charge,  to discuss upcoming changes associated with NATO Command Structure Adaptation at the SHAPE Theatre,  May 14,  2018. (NATO photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Danielle Brandt,  USN)

MONS, Belgium – General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, hosted a townhall meeting alongside General Markus Kneip, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Chief of Staff, and Brigadier General Efthymios Kordoroumpas, the SHAPE personnel officer in charge, to discuss upcoming changes associated with NATO Command Structure Adaptation at the SHAPE Theatre, May 14, 2018.

General Scaparrotti gave audience members insight as to why this iteration of adaptation is necessary, what changes in the current security environment prompted the need for change and his vision for SHAPE in the coming years.

General Kneip gave a historical perspective on NCS-A including how NATO adapted in the past to meet the challenges of the time. He also provided the audience with a proposed timeline for adaptation and a glimpse as to what the new internal structure of SHAPE will look like.

"This is not the first time NATO has adapted its command structure and it will not be the last," General Kneip said. "Adapting to meet the reality of today's and tomorrow's dynamic security environment is the embodiment of our commitment to protecting the Alliance."

Finally, Brigadier General Kordoroumpas outlined how the new command structure at SHAPE would impact military and civilian personnel.

At the Warsaw Summit in 2016, the heads of state and government announced the need to assess NATO's Command Structure in recognition of the changing security environment. The decision allowed NATO to remain robust and agile, and able to undertake effective command and control of simultaneous challenges across the full spectrum of missions. Emerging threats such as regional instability, terrorism, mass migration, a more assertive Russia, as well as hybrid and cyber activities required greater operational capability.

General Scaparrotti ended the townhall by reiterating his vision for ACO in the future.

"I envisage ACO as a highly proficient and agile Command, dedicated to the planning and execution of NATO Operations, and providing resilient and effective mission Command with standing and deployable Headquarters; a Command ready and relevant to the full range of missions and the changing, complex environment, and working in close cooperation with our Nations and Partners," he said.

Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office