Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
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Through NATO and European Union
SACEUR, by tradition, has always been held by a U.S. military officer, and the position is dual-hatted with that of Commander of United States European Command.
The current SACEUR is General Alexus G. Grynkewich of the US Air Force.
List of holders
Since 2003 the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) has also served as the head of Allied Command Europe and the head of Allied Command Operations. The officeholders have been:
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Deputy Supreme Allied Command Europe
The position of Deputy Supreme Allied Command Europe (DSACEUR) has been known as Deputy Head of Allied Command Operations since 2003. From January 1978 until June 1993 there were two DSACEURs, one British and one German. From July 1993 this reverted to a single DSACEUR. The DSACEUR position has, by tradition, always been held by British or German military officers. The officeholders have been as follows:
Single DSACEUR (April 1951 – January 1978)
Two DSACEURs (January 1978 until June 1993)
Single DSACEUR (July 1993 – present)
Role in intra-European defence integration
DSACEUR's role in European Union missions
Under the 2002 Berlin Plus agreement, SHAPE may take part in the European Union's (EU) command and control structure as an operational headquarters (OHQ) for EU missions. In such an instance, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), who is always a European, would serve as Operation Commander (OpCdr). This use of SHAPE by the EU is subject to a "right of first refusal", i.e. NATO must first decline to intervene in a given crisis, and is contingent upon unanimous approval among NATO states, including those outside of the EU.