French Air Force general now in charge of NATO's strategic command

[tocqueville]

Source: wtkr

A French Air Force general is taking command of one of only two permanent NATO headquarters.

It's the first time in 60 years that honor has been handed to a non-American.

General Stephane Abrial has taken on the position of NATO's strategic command, making him the first European to take this post. General Abrial's appointment comes months after France rejoined NATO'S alliance.

....

More than 30 years later he was honored by a crowd of nearly 800, all there to see this milestone in NATO's history.

Read more: http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-french-general-nato,0,3660939.story

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He graduated from France's Air Force Academy in 1973 and earned his fighter pilot wings in 1976. He also did a year-long stint as an exchange cadet with the US Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Much of his career has been spent overseas including as a flight commander north of Munich, Germany and as a detachment commander in Greece during the 1980s.

He spent time at NATO headquarters in Brussels during the 1990s among his other appointments before ascending to become the chief of staff of the French Air Force in July 2006.

He will be based in the southern US city of Norfolk, home to the world's largest naval station, the Norfolk Naval Base directly northwest of the city, which is home port to 78 ships and 133 aircraft.

http://www.france24.com/en/20090909-french-general-stephane-abrial-nato-commander-alliance-usa

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