United States Ambassador Stephen Mull discusses the private public partnership going on in Poland.

Department of Defense officials announced today that Lajes Field will transition from an air base wing to an air base group with a reduction of more than 400 military personnel and 500 family members by the end of fiscal year 2014.

Airmen at Lajes Field welcome reservists from Utah's 419th Logistics Readiness Squadron. A1C Rebecca Stout has the story.

Silva, a fuels specialist and a 31-year veteran of Lajes Field, was driving a C-300 refueling vehicle May 25, when suddenly the truck began smoking and, shortly thereafter, was engulfed in flames.

OEIRAS, Portugal – Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe, Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet and Commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO, commemorated the arrival of the NATO command to its new location during a ceremony here May 17.

Ther Persian Gulf war officially ended on Feb. 28, 1991

The Lajes Field community took time out to remember our prisoners of war and those missing in action. A1C Monique Benedict gives us a look at what members of Team Lajes do to honor the memory of those who have not made it home.

Last week, William Poole and I (EUCOM Cyber Defense Division International Information Assurance Branch) wrapped up the Cyber Endeavor portion of the Combined Endeavor 2011 mid-planning conference. Let me give you a little background on Cyber Endeavor. Educators and technical professionals from governmental organizations, industry, and academia, provide cyber defense familiarization to audiences from an estimated 40 countries. Cyber Endeavor is the premier forum for international military, industry and academic professionals to collaborate and improve partnerships with the end goal of strengthening collective cyber defense capabilities.

We finished the Lisbon summit last week – really a high point thus far in the nearly 18 months I’ve been the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). While not without some challenges, overall the summit must be judged a real success.

The historic Silk Road traversed 3 present-day US geographic commands; European Command (EUCOM), Central Command (CENTCOM) and Pacific Command (PACOM), as it wound its way from Italy in the west to China in the east by way of Afghanistan pretty much right in the middle.

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia, Nov. 21, 2010 – The NATO summit that concluded yesterday in Lisbon, Portugal, was a “tremendous success” from the U.S. standpoint, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.

Currently, 28 NATO Heads of States and Governments (HoSG) are expected to convene at the NATO Summit. Over a series of meetings, our leaders will discuss a handful of issues central to the future security of Europe and North America, focusing on the new strategic concept and its subsequent implementation: crisis management; missile defense; the comprehensive approach; cyber security; and NATO headquarters and command structure reform.

I had an experience last week I never expected when I began my naval career in the 1970s during the Cold War period: a four-day visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg, hosted by the Russian Chief of Defense.

LISBON, Portugal – Navy Capt. Karl Thomas was relieved as commanding officer by Navy Capt. Jeffrey Ruth during a change of command ceremony aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), Aug. 12.

I read about the economic and natural crises in Romania this week and I couldn't help but think about a recent trip I took to the beautiful Carpathia Mountains not far from where the flooding is happening now.

LAJES FIELD, Azores — In the midst of many budget cuts, Lajes Field, Azores, officials are improving the quality of life for Airmen and their families, with a focus on improving programs geared toward areas of concern for Air Force families as of June 24.

USS GUNSTON HALL, Mediterranean Sea — The second phase of exercise Phoenix Express 2010 (PE10) began after the successful completion of the in port segment of the exercise in Souda Bay, Greece on May 24.

If you read this blog regularly, you know I am committed to engaging actively and personally around the region to futher our shared security objectives. Last week was yet another busy week of travel in Europe.

I had a good series of meetings in Lisbon, Portugal on Monday. The gathering in Lisbon was with all of the Defense Chiefs from the 28 nations of NATO. We focused on two key topics for the alliance: Afghanistan and the Strategic Concept.

I started last week in Lisbon, on the heels of a trip to Stuttgart the previous Friday for staff briefings at European Command (EUCOM) and EUCOM's Annual Summer Reception, which included a spectacular concert with an Elvis Presley impersonator in full U.S. Army regalia!

The NATO Sea Day – held only once every two years – was an unqualified success. The object is to bring to sea the key decision makers in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization: the Secretary General and his Deputy; the entire Permanent Representatives from NATO’s decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council (all 28 nations of course have an ambassador-rank official assigned to Brussels); the Military Committee (each Chief of Defense – those of us from the U.S. would say Chairman of the Joint Chiefs – is a member, and each has a full-time, very senior representative in Brussels); and key personnel from the operational staff, i.e. Allied Command Operations / Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

USNS LCPL ROY M. WHEAT, at sea - Exercise Phoenix Express (PE09) continued in the Mediterranean this week aboard USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat with sailors from Algeria, Turkey, Portugal and the United States and Marines from Italy using the ship for visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercises.