United States European Command

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USEUCOM Public Affairs|5/4/2013 7:43:32 PM

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.

Admiral James Stavridis, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe commander, (left) looks on, as Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, Allied Air Command Ramstein commander, addresses NATO and senior leaders prior to the European Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 26, 2012. The EIAMDC addresses increased education and training requirements driven by a new approach to missile defense and the emerging NATO territorial ballistic missile defense mission.

1 photo: Admiral James Stavridis looks on as Gen. Philip M. Breedlove addresses NATO and senior leaders prior to the European Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center ribbon-cutting ceremony

Photo 1 of 1: Admiral James Stavridis, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe commander, (left) looks on, as Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, Allied Air Command Ramstein commander, addresses NATO and senior leaders prior to the European Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 26, 2012. The EIAMDC addresses increased education and training requirements driven by a new approach to missile defense and the emerging NATO territorial ballistic missile defense mission. Download full-resolution version

Weather permitting, the ceremony will be held outside at Washington Square and if not, indoors at the Patch Fitness Center Gym.

The EUCOM Change of Command Ceremony will broadcast on the Pentagon Channel and stream "live" at on TPC website.

A Forest Park, Ga., native and 1977 distinguished graduate of Georgia Tech’s Reserve Officer Training Course program, Breedlove currently serves as the Commander for U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa, Commander Air Component Command, Ramstein; and the Director of the Joint Air Power Competence Centre in Kalkar, Germany.

From July of 1991 to May of 1993, he was the Chief of Air Operations at the United Nations Command Republic of Korea/U.S. Combined Forces Command, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea.

In June of 1995, till July 1997, he was the operations officer for the U.S. Pacific Command Division of the Pentagon Joint Staff in Washington D.C. Later from June of 2001-2002, he was the senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. The commander of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona from June 2002-June 2004 and commander of the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, in Italy, in June 2005 he assumed the position of Vice Commander of the 16th Air Force at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

In 2006, till July 2008, he returned to D.C. to assume the post of Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy at the Pentagon’s Joint Staff. Back to Ramstein Air Base as the 3rd Air Force commander from July 2008 to August 2009, he assumed the post of Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requires, at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in D.C. on August 2009. On January 2011, Breedlove assumed the post of Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Finally in 2012, he assumed his current role.

A 2002 Fellow at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI in Washington D.C., Breedlove obtained a Masters in National Security Studies from the National War College, at Fort Lesley J. McNair in D.C. and a Master of Science in aeronautical technology from Arizona State University. His 1977 bachelor’s degree was in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Breedlove holds various decorations and awards including, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and three awards of Legion of Merit. He has also logged over 3,500 flight hours and is rated as a command pilot.

Breedlove will become the sixteenth US European Command Commander, and the third Air Force officer to hold the position.

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.

Stavridis commanded the USS Barry (DDG-52), Destroyer Squadron 21 and the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group.

Ashore, he has served as a strategic and long-range planner on the staffs of the Chief of Naval Operations and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has also served as the executive assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense.

Stavridis holds various decorations and awards, including two awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and five awards of the Legion of Merit.

Due to the rehearsal and event itself, normal traffic and parking may be disrupted starting the afternoon of May 9 until the afternoon of May 10. Uniform for the event is service dress blues or equivalent.

For USEUCOM-related questions, contact the USEUCOM Public Affairs office at (+49) 0711-680-6618/8503 or by e-mailing the Media Operations team at eucom.stuttgart.ecpa.list.ecpa-media-ops@mail.mil. You can also visit get information on EUCOM here.