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02 September 2003

NATO Renames Allied Command Europe

New Allied Command Operations (ACO) has more elements of responsibility

Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General James L. Jones, announced September 1 that Allied Command Europe (ACE) will officially be renamed Allied Command Operations (ACO) as part of the revitalization of NATO and its military command structure.

"ACO and its sister headquarters, Allied Command Transformation (ACT), reflect a fundamental change to the manner in which NATO's military command will operate in the future," said General Jones. "The two new headquarters, one based on operations and the other based on concept and development, have distinct and urgent tasks, key among them being the creation of the NATO Response Force."

Following is the NATO press release:

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NATO
www.nato.int
1 September 2003

A new name for Allied Command Europe (ACE): Allied Command Operations (ACO)

SHAPE, Belgium -- The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General James L. Jones, announced today that Allied Command Europe (ACE) will officially be renamed, Allied Command Operations (ACO).

The change symbolizes the landmark decision taken by NATO's top leaders at the 2002 Prague Summit to revitalize NATO and its military command structure with the creation of two new headquarters, ACO and Allied Command Transformation (ACT).

ACO will continue to embrace all the NATO commands in Europe and add to its Area of Responsibility those operational elements that formerly came under the Supreme Allied Command Atlantic (SACLANT). SACLANT was decommissioned and ACT was established in its place on June 19, 2003 at an historic ceremony held in Norfolk, Virginia.

Gen. Jones retains the title of SACEUR and assumes strategic command for the preparation and conduct of all joint (sea, land and air) NATO operations. Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) retains its name.

"ACO and its sister headquarters, ACT, reflect a fundamental change to the manner in which NATO's military command will operate in the future," said Gen. Jones. "The two new headquarters, one based on operations and the other based on concept and development, have distinct and urgent tasks, key among them being the creation of the NATO Response Force."

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)