Army general takes reins of NATO Atlantic command

WASHINGTON (USTCNS) --- Gen. William F. "Buck" Kernan became the first Army general to head NATO's Allied Command Atlantic when he took the reins of leadership from Adm. Harold W. Gehman during a change of command ceremony aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt Sept. 5 in Norfolk, Va.

Along with becoming the supreme allied commander, Atlantic, Kernan became the commander in chief of the recently redesignated U.S. Joint Forces Command.

"Buck Kernan is one of the nation's best rapid reactors-as the leader of the 75th Ranger Regiment and most recently as the commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, America's premier rapid reaction force," said Secretarty of Defense William S. Cohen.

"As the first soldier to lead Norfolk's two great commands, we can expect to see Buck Kernan residing where Rangers feel most at home-at the battle's cutting edge. General Kernan, you prove once again that America sends her best and brightest to serve with all of our allies and to forge the future."

Allied Command Atlantic's primary missions are to safeguard sea lanes of communication, support land and amphibious operations and protect sea-base nuclear deterrents in the Atlantic area. Its area of operations extends from the North Pole to the Tropic of Cancer and from the U.S. East Coast to the West coasts of Europe and West Africa.

Redesignated from being the U.S. Atlantic Command in October, 1999, the Joint Forces Command is responsible for maximizing the nation's present and future military capabilities through joint training, total force integration and providing Continental U.S.-based ready forces to support other unified commands and domestic requirements. It commands combatant forces from each of the four services.

Kernan has commanded troops at platoon through corps level. He has been the commander for two airborne companies, two Ranger companies, a rifle company in the British Parachute Regiment while an exchange officer, an airborne infantry battalion, a ranger battalion, the 101st Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps.

"The soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines of Joint Forces Command represent America," Kernan said. "They reminds us of our roots and the strength of this nation-the willingness of America's best to selflessly step forward to serve their nation. They are my heroes."

"Likewise, the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines of Allied Command Atlantic are a symbol of NATO's immense capabilities and strength. They represent 19 nations committed to the establishment of a just and lasting peaceful order in Europe based on common values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law." (FROM ARMYLINK NEWS).