NATO names Allen to succeed Stavridis as supreme commander
US General John Allen will take over as NATO supreme commander and be
replaced as head of alliance forces in Afghanistan by Joseph Dunford, currently
US Marine Corps deputy commander, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday.
Allen, who succeeds Admiral James Stavridis in a post traditionally held by a
US officer, led the NATO campaign in Afghanistan from July 2011.
Panetta made the announcement after a meeting of NATO defence ministers in
Brussels. Both nominations by President Barack Obama are subject to US Senate
confirmation.
