Command Change

French Air Force Gen. Stéphane Abrial will succeed U.S. Marine Gen. James Mattis as NATO's supreme allied commander transformation (SACT) tomorrow in a ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) in port at Naval Station Norfolk, VA.

The SACT is charged with being NATO’s leading agent for change -- driving, facilitating, and advocating continuous improvement of alliance capabilities to maintain and enhance the military relevance and effectiveness of NATO, according to the alliance.

The Virginian-Pilot reports Abrial is one of two French generals to assume top NATO commands since French President Nicolas Sarkozy brought France back into NATO’s military structure in March.

"Now we are part of the club, and there’s no reason for any kind of mutual suspicion. It's much better to be inside than outside," Abrial told the newspaper.

The Daily Press reports Abrial is no stranger to the United States: He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1974 and the U.S. Air War College in 1992.

Mattis assumed the NATO post and the top job at U.S. Joint Forces Command on Nov. 9, 2007, when he took over both roles from Air Force Gen. Lance Smith. Mattis is slated to continue as JFCOM's commander.