Admiral Stavridis takes over as United States European Command Commander.

Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense, passes the command colors to U.S. Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis during the U.S. European Command Change of Command Ceremony, June 30, 2009. Stavridis, the first U.S. Navy Commander to lead the command in its 57-year history, assumed command of more than 84,000 U.S. troops assigned in Europe from U.S. Army General John Craddock. (DoD photo by Richard Herman)

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The Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, presided over the ceremony that transferred command to Admiral Stavridis from Army General John Craddock, who served as the USEUCOM Commander since December 2006.

   General Craddock brings to a close nearly 40 years of exemplary
   service. In many ways it's appropriate we gather at this post in a
   country where he spent most of his time in uniform keeping the
   peace, Gates said. The trajectory of his career tracks some of the
   most important missions the U.S. military has undertaken during the
   last two generations. We are fortunate to have Admiral James
   Stavridis who is once again taking the baton from General Craddock
   as he did nearly three years ago in the U.S. Southern Command
   (SOUTHCOM), Gates said. I am confident that Admiral Stavridis will
   lead our brave men and women with honor and do right by them just
   as General Craddock has done during the last three years.

The change of command marks the third consecutive time Stavridis has relieved Craddock in their careers.

Stavridis, who previously served as the Commander of U.S. Southern Command in Miami, will also serve as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, following a July 2 change of command ceremony in Mons, Belgium. Stavridis welcomed distinguished guests, thanked Craddock for his leadership, and paid tribute to the host nation.

   Partnership is what this command is all about, said Stavridis, who
   is the first naval officer to command USEUCOM. Partnership is built
   on trust, confidence, and shared experience--we have all of these
   not only with our host nation, but with many nations across this
   beautiful continent. The challenges are many from natural
   disasters, pandemic diseases, cyber attack, and transnational
   terrorism, he said. But I will tell
   you, in every challenge there is an opportunity, an opportunity for
   partnership, for partnership that is transparent and built on
   trust.

The EUCOM Commander's responsibility spans 51 nations and five U.S. subordinate commands represented by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command, Europe. Craddock thanked his family for their support and expressed his sincere thanks to the EUCOM staff and the component commands.

   I thank you for your extraordinary efforts. You've made a huge
   difference, and I am grateful, said Craddock, who is retiring after
   serving more than 38 years in the Army. You've been busy, and I
   know you've worked hard day in and day out. To all who worked to do
   this: thank you, ordinary people doing a hero's job."

Mullen said Craddock's leadership as a soldier-statesman, in two combatant commands, back-toback, all during a time of war, was vital to raising common goals above national boundaries.

   Today, thanks to John (Craddock), any willing nation, no matter
   what size or how nascent, can and does contribute to global
   stability: from Gaza to the Gulf of Aden, from Kabul to Kazakhstan,
   Mullen said. I know I speak for thousands when I thank you for all
   you've done, and our greater military family is going to miss both
   of you.

Stavridis pointed out he is not taking the watch alone as he honored his troops' service and pledged his support and loyalty to each of them.

   The good news in all of this is I will not do it alone, he said.
   With me and my wife; my daughter; a perfect chain of command on
   this podium behind me; and, above all, tens of thousands of
   shipmates in EUCOM who today stand the watch across this most
   fundamental of continents: USEUCOM was created in the fire of a
   distant war but today embarks on a voyage of peace. Let's get
   underway.

By Air Force Technical Sergeant Rob Hazelett

United States European Command Public Affairs

June 30, 2009