“Today we transfer command responsibility from one outstanding leader to another and recognize the accomplishments of the men and women of U.S. European Command over the past four years,” Carter said.

Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove became head of U.S. European Command on Friday, assuming leadership at a time of fiscal constraint and growing instability just beyond Europe’s edges in places such as Syria.

Distinguished guests, representatives from NATO and especially our German hosts, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Secretary Hagel, it is my honor and it’s my privilege to be here with you today. Today, we transfer command responsibility from one outstanding leader to another and recognize the accomplishments of the men and women of the United States European Command over the past four years.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

STUTTGART - Servicemembers attended and participated in the United States European Command (USEUCOM) Change of Command Ceremony where Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis reliquished command to Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove on Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, May 10. During the ceremony Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter spoke highly of Stavridis and commended him on a job well done and served as the retiring officer for Adm. Stavridis' retirement ceremony following the change of command. Stavridis assumed command of EUCOM in June 2009. The change of command ceremony will mark his final official function after more than 35 years in the Navy.

STUTTGART - Servicemembers attended and participated in the United States European Command (USEUCOM) Change of Command Ceremony where Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis reliquished command to Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove on Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, May 10. During the ceremony Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter spoke highly of Stavridis and commended him on a job well done and served as the retiring officer for Adm. Stavridis' retirement ceremony following the change of command. Stavridis assumed command of EUCOM in June 2009. The change of command ceremony will mark his final official function after more than 35 years in the Navy.

STUTTGART - Servicemembers attended and participated in the United States European Command (USEUCOM) Change of Command Ceremony where Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis reliquished command to Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove on Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, May 10. During the ceremony Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter spoke highly of Stavridis and commended him on a job well done and served as the retiring officer for Adm. Stavridis' retirement ceremony following the change of command. Stavridis assumed command of EUCOM in June 2009. The change of command ceremony will mark his final official function after more than 35 years in the Navy.

STUTTGART - Servicemembers attended and participated in the United States European Command (USEUCOM) Change of Command Ceremony where Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis reliquished command to Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove on Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, May 10. During the ceremony Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter spoke highly of Stavridis and commended him on a job well done and served as the retiring officer for Adm. Stavridis' retirement ceremony following the change of command. Stavridis assumed command of EUCOM in June 2009. The change of command ceremony will mark his final official function after more than 35 years in the Navy.

STUTTGART - Servicemembers attended and participated in the United States European Command (USEUCOM) Change of Command Ceremony where Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis reliquished command to Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove on Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, May 10. During the ceremony Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter spoke highly of Stavridis and commended him on a job well done and served as the retiring officer for Adm. Stavridis' retirement ceremony following the change of command. Stavridis assumed command of EUCOM in June 2009. The change of command ceremony will mark his final official function after more than 35 years in the Navy.

STUTTGART, Germany -- Cannons fire a 19-gun salute on Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, to commemorate the Change of Command ceremony between Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis and Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove for U.S. European Command, May 10. The ceremony between Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis and Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove signified the exchange of commanders for U.S. European Command and also the retirement of Stavridis after more than 35 years of military service in the Navy. The event was held on Patch Barracks with distinguished visitors including U.S. and allied-nation ambassadors, military general officers, and the military community of Stuttgart, Germany.

STUTTGART, Germany -- The official party, Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter, Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, and Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, outgoing and incoming commanders of U.S. European Command, during “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the Change-of-Command ceremony in front of a joint formation of servicemembers from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The ceremony between Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis and Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove signified the exchange of commanders for U.S. European Command and also the retirement of Stavridis after more than 35 years of military service in the Navy. The event was held on Patch Barracks with distinguished visitors including U.S. and allied-nation ambassadors, military general officers, and the military community of Stuttgart, Germany.

STUTTGART, Germany -- The official party, Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter, Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, and Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, outgoing and incoming commanders of U.S. European Command, during “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the Change-of-Command ceremony in front of a joint formation of servicemembers from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The ceremony between Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis and Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove signified the exchange of commanders for U.S. European Command and also the retirement of Stavridis after more than 35 years of military service in the Navy. The event was held on Patch Barracks with distinguished visitors including U.S. and allied-nation ambassadors, military general officers, and the military community of Stuttgart, Germany.

STUTTGART, Germany -- The official party, Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter, Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, and Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, outgoing and incoming commanders of U.S. European Command, during “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the Change-of-Command ceremony in front of a joint formation of servicemembers from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The ceremony between Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis and Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove signified the exchange of commanders for U.S. European Command and also the retirement of Stavridis after more than 35 years of military service in the Navy. The event was held on Patch Barracks with distinguished visitors including U.S. and allied-nation ambassadors, military general officers, and the military community of Stuttgart, Germany.

STUTTGART, Germany - U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

STUTTGART, Germany - U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

STUTTGART, Germany - U.S. European Command held a change of command ceremony on Patch Barracks's Washington Square, May 10. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove assumed command of EUCOM from retiring Adm. James Stavridis who assumes the post of Dean at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Mass., on July 1.

Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived here today for meetings with senior U.S. officials and to preside over tomorrow’s U.S. European Command change of command.

The United States European Command (USEUCOM) will host a Change of Command Ceremony between Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis and Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove on Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, May 10 at 10 a.m.