President Trump has chosen Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters to become the Supreme NATO Commander and U.S. European Commander, acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan has announced.
Wolters, 59, will replace Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, who has held the position in 2016. A combat veteran who served in the Gulf War and the Iraq War, Wolters has flown more than 5,000 hours in the F-15 Eagle, F-22 Raptor, OV-10 Bronco, T-38 Talon, and A-10 Warthog aircraft.
Scaparrotti is due to retire. Wolters, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he played cornerback, running back, and linebacker for the Falcons football team. He is currently the top Air Force general in Europe as commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe-U.S. Forces Africa, based at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He is also chief of NATO’s Allied Air Command.
As the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Wolters will be NATO’s top officer and in charge of 60,000 U.S. troops in Germany, Italy, Spain, and elsewhere in Europe.
His nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. NATO has already agreed to appoint Wolters to the position.
