page_title: Philip M. Breedlove
section_title: Commander
hierarchical_section_title: Philip M. Breedlove / Commander
caption_attribution_description: English: Gen. Philip Breedlove, U.S. Air Force, assumed command of Allied Command Operations from Adm. James Stavridis, U.S. Navy, at a change of command ceremony held at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe on May 1, 2013. Gen. Breedlove is the 17th American officer to hold this prestigious position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe. (NATO photo by Sgt Emily Langer GER Army)
context_page_description: Philip Mark Breedlove is a retired four-star General in the United States Air Force who served as the Commander, U.S. European Command, as well as the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations, from May 2013 until May 4, 2016. He previously served as the Commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe, which he concurrently served as Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa, Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein, and Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center. He previously served as the 36th Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from January 14, 2011, to July 27, 2012. On 10 May 2013, in a ceremony in Stuttgart, Germany, Breedlove took over the command of USEUCOM. Three days later, on May 13, 2013, he assumed command as SACEUR.
  On 11 March 2017, NATO's Atlantic Council designated US Army General Curtis Scaparrotti as Breedlove's successor. Scaparrotti took command in Europe on 3 May 2017 and on 4 May 2018.
context_section_description: From June 2002 to June 2004, he became the commander of the 56th Fighter Wing, located at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Then for the next year, he became commander of the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. He then became the Vice Commander of the 16th Air Force at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from June 2005 to October 2006. His next assignment, which lasted until July 2008, had him as the Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington D.C.. From July 2008 to August 2009, he was the Commander of the 3rd Air Force, located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In August 2009, he began serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington D.C.
  On January 14, 2011, Breedlove started his term as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.  His promotion to general also was effective that day.
  In July 2012 Breedlove left his position as Vice Chief of Staff to become commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe.
caption: Breedlove with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, May 1, 2013
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