| United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1940s–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Component command NATO Command |
| Part of | United States European Command &United States Africa Command |
| Headquarters | Naval Support Activity Naples |
| Website | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander |  AdmiralGeorge Wikoff Commander, CNE-CNA Commander,Joint Force Command Naples (JFC) |
| Deputy Commander |  Vice AdmiralJeffrey T. Anderson Deputy Commander, CNE-CNA Commander,U.S. Sixth Fleet |
| Fleet Master Chief | FLTCMLateef Compton |
TheUnited States Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF),[1] is theUnited States Navy component command of theUnited States European Command andUnited States Africa Command. Prior to 2020, NAVEUR-NAVAF was previously referred to asUnited States Naval Forces Europe – Naval Forces Africa and sometimes referred to asUnited States Naval Forces Europe – Africa.
Naval Forces Europe and Africa provides overall command, operational control, and coordination of U.S. Naval Forces in the European and African Command area of responsibility. As the Navy component in Europe, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, plans, conducts, and supports naval operations in the European theater during peacetime, contingencies, in general war and as tasked by Commander, U.S. European Command. NAVAF works with European, African, and South American governments, including in the disruption of militant networks, deterrence of illicit trafficking, and against piracy and maritime crime.
With its headquarters now atNaval Support Activity Naples, Naval Forces Europe and Africa directs all its naval operations through Commander,United States Sixth Fleet co-located inNaples, Italy, and support activities ashore through Commander,Navy Region Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia (CNREURAFSWA), also headquartered in Naples.
Naval Forces Europe and Africa is commanded by AdmiralGeorge Wikoff, who also serves asNATO's Commander,Allied Joint Force Command Naples. The deputy commander is currently Vice AdmiralJeffrey T. Anderson, who concurrently serves as theSixth Fleet commander.
The earliest presence of U.S. Navy forces in Europe was theMediterranean Squadron, theEuropean Squadron following theAmerican Civil War, the forces were combined as part of theNorth Atlantic Fleet in 1906. In 1917,United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters developed as a command under the leadership AdmiralWilliam S. Sims to oversee the European aspects ofUnited States Navy operations during World War I.[2] His principal subordinates were Rear AdmiralsHenry B. Wilson in France andAlbert P. Niblack atGibraltar.[3][4]
Following the cessation of hostilities and the Allied occupation of Turkey, Rear AdmiralMark L. Bristol was sent toIstanbul as Senior Naval Officer Turkey, commanding the U.S. Naval Detachment in Turkish Waters.[5] Bristol arrived in Istanbul on 28 January 1919, and raised his flag onUSS Scorpion (PY-3). In August 1919 Bristol also received the diplomatic appointment of U.S. High Commissioner, responsible to theState Department for diplomatic matters in Turkey. In his naval capacity Bristol was responsible to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, European Waters. In May 1920,USS Pittsburgh (CA-4), flagship of Vice AdmiralHarry S. Knapp, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, European Waters, accompanied byUSS Cole (DD-155), evacuated a number of American naval and relief personnel from theCaucasus.[6] In September 1920, the flagshipPittsburg ran aground in the Baltic sea offLibau and returned to the United States for repairs. From January 1921 until April 1922, Vice AdmiralAlbert P. Niblack served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, European Waters. In October 1922,Pittsburgh returned to the Mediterranean and became flagship for two of Niblack's successors as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces European Waters, AdmiralPhilip Andrews in 1924–1925 and Vice-AdmiralRoger Welles in 1925–1926.
At some point after 1926, Naval Forces, European Waters, went into abeyance. Later, in March 1942, the duties of the existing Special Naval Observer London were expanded to command naval forces. Commander, Naval Forces, Europe was established to maintain Navy bases in the United Kingdom and to report intelligence and research data being provided by Allied intelligence organizations. Numerous liaison channels were opened with the British Government and with governments in exile. The command also assisted in the planning and preparation of the invasions of North Africa and France. By 1944 the headquarters had been established at 20Grosvenor Square, in central London. The building was only vacated by the Navy when the headquarters moved to Italy in 2009.
When AdmiralHarold R. Stark became COMNAVEUR in April 1942, he was given the additional duties as Commander,United States Twelfth Fleet. The fleet, which operated in European waters, consisted of onebattleship, twocruisers, anaircraft carrier and sixdestroyers.
By autumn of 1945, the chief function of the U.S. Navy in the occupied countries was completed; enemy naval forces had been disarmed, war material had been located and accounted for, and harbors had been reopened and were in operation. As operational emphasis changed and the geographical area expanded, the command's title was changed to more specifically define the Navy's role. In November 1946, COMNAVEUR became COMNELM (Commander,U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean) and six months later, in April 1947, the title was changed, this time to Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM). A Northern European Force of five to six ships (cruisers and destroyers) were active from 1946 to 1956.[7]
Missouri visited Turkey amid theTurkish Straits crisis of 1946–48.
AdmiralRobert B. Carney became CINCNELM in December 1950. In June 1951, he assumed additional duty as Commander-in-Chief,Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), and the CINCNELM Headquarters was moved from London to Naples. In June 1952, the two commands were separated: CINCNELM Headquarters returned to London and AdmiralJerauld Wright became CINCNELM and Admiral Carney remained in Naples as CINCSOUTH.
Wright became the Commander-in-Chief effective 14 June 1952.[8] CINCELM was organized into the following subordinate commands:[9][10]
Wright's operational control over the Sixth Fleet proved to be a source of friction withAdmiralLord Louis Mountbatten,RN, NATO's Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Mediterranean (CINCAFMED). Mountbatten felt that the Sixth Fleet should be assigned to his command while Wright wanted to maintain control of the fleet, particularly its nuclear-armed aircraft carriers, pursuant to both U.S. Navy policy and theAtomic Energy Act of 1946. The dispute tested the diplomatic skills of both men. CINCNELM forces participated in NATOOperation Mariner andOperation Weldfast exercises during 1953, and units of the Sixth Fleet did participate in NATO exercises while staying under U.S. control.[11]
As CINCNELM, Wright maintained strong diplomatic ties with allies within his area of responsibility. He made a 14-day goodwill trip to the Middle East that culminated with a courtesy call with the newly crownedKingSaud bin Abdul Aziz inJidda, Saudi Arabia.[12] Later, Wright attended the coronation ceremonies ofKingHussein of Jordan in May 1953.[13]
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In June 1953, Wright served as the senior U.S. Navy representative at the coronation pageant ofQueen Elizabeth II, including flying his flag from the heavy cruiserUSSBaltimore during theCoronation Naval Review ofSpithead on 15 June.[14]
Admiral Wright also made the arrangements forUnited States Ambassador to the United KingdomWinthrop Aldrich to present a bronze plaque ofJohn Paul Jones from the U.S.Naval Historical Center to the British government, initiatinghis long-time association with the famous naval hero of theAmerican Revolution.[15]
During a high-level conference inWashington, D.C. from 20 October – 4 November 1953, Wright was informed that that CINCNELM was to become a sub-ordinate command of theU.S. Atlantic Fleet reporting directly to AdmiralLynde D. McCormick, the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT). Also, Wright would become the head of NATO's Eastern Atlantic Area, reporting to Admiral McCormick, the firstSupreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT).[16]
Admiral McCormick noted in his final fitness report dated March 1954:
GeneralThomas T. Handy, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief,U.S. European Command, also noted:
Jeruald Wright was promoted to the rank of admiral effective 1 April 1954.[17]
In September 1958, AdmiralJames L. Holloway Jr., CINCNELM, was assigned additional duty asU.S. Commander Eastern Atlantic (USCOMEASTLANT). Under the Commander in Chief,U.S. Atlantic Fleet, USCOMEASTLANT provided intelligence and logistic support for LANTFLT units deployed in the USCOMEASTLANT area.
In February 1960, the title of the command was changed to Commander in Chief,U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR) and the CINCNELM title was retained for command in the Middle East fromTurkey andEgypt to the middle of the Indian Ocean. Although these were separate commands, they were placed under the control of one commander. The CINCNELM command was disestablished on 1 February 1964. During most of the intervening years, CINCUSNAVEUR has exercised direct command over four subordinate commanders: Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (COMSIXTHFLT); Commander,Fleet Air Mediterranean (COMFAIRMED);[18] Commander,Middle East Force (COMIDEASTFOR) (until 1983); and Commander,U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom (COMNAVACT UK). After theRapid Deployment Joint Task Force becameUnited States Central Command, the Middle East Force was reassigned to the administrative command of Commander,U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) on 1 October 1983.
CINCSOUTH and CINCUSNAVEUR again shared an Admiral when AdmiralWilliam J. Crowe Jr., who was CINCSOUTH, also took the title of CINCUSNAVEUR on 1 January 1983. Admiral Crowe retained his NATO command and headquarters in Naples, Italy. Vice AdmiralRonald J. Hays, in London, became Deputy CINCUSNAVEUR and retained the title of USCOMEASTLANT. The CINCUSNAVEUR Headquarters remained in London with Admiral Crowe spending time at both locations. The responsibility of U.S. Commander Eastern Atlantic was added to that of the Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe and Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe on 28 February 1989 during AdmiralJames Buchanan Busey IV's assignment as Commander in Chief.
In September 1996 it was agreed that CINCUSNAVEUR could support CINCLANTFLT forces without the USCOMEASTLANT designation.
In 1999, changes to CINCUSNAVEUR's area of responsibility were announced, after amendments to theUnified Command Plan. The United States Atlantic Command areas that had included the waters off Europe and the west coast of Africa were to be transferred to European Command.[19] U.S. European Command already had responsibility for all U.S. land and air military planning in Europe and most of Africa. The change gave EUCOM, and NAVEUR, the responsibility for maritime planning in the same general area of operations. The changes were made effective on 1 October 2000. The Atlantic Command areas that presently include the waters off Europe and the west coast of Africa were also transferred to European Command.
In 2002, the command changed its name to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (COMUSNAVEUR).
On 15 March 2004, NATO'sJoint Force Command (JFC) Naples was activated and its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southern Europe was deactivated.
COMUSNAVEUR continues to be dual-hatted as COMJFC Naples. In August 2005 COMUSNAVEUR headquarters completed its relocation to Naples, Italy from London in the United Kingdom. By a directive of 20 September 2005, Naval Forces Europe and Sixth Fleet were merged. NavEur is now co-located with his NATO headquarters.U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom was deactivated in September 2007.
USNAVEUR is now focusing more attention on Africa, specifically theGulf of Guinea region, partially because of the increasing importance of theoil reserves there. Ships are now often deploying to aid regional African navies, of which the most important in the region is theNigerian Navy. Connected with this effort, a new geographic combatant command,United States Africa Command, is being stood up and is scheduled for completion in September 2008, which may mean a realignment of USN responsibilities for the West African area. As a result, NAVEUR is now sometimes referred to as US Naval Forces Europe-Africa and even NAVAF. There is currently however no approved plan to establish a separate Naval Forces Africa HQ. Two new task groups are active, Commander Task Group 60.4 which runs theAfrica Partnership Station deployment series, and Commander Task Group 60.5, the Southeast Africa Task Group.
The Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) area of responsibility (AOR) covers approximately half of the Atlantic Ocean, from the North Pole to Antarctica; as well as the Adriatic, Baltic, Barents, Black, Caspian, Mediterranean and North Seas. NAVEUR-NAVAF covers all of Russia, Europe and nearly the entire continent of Africa. It encompasses 105 countries with a combined population of more than one billion people and includes a landmass extending more than 14 million square miles.[20]
The AOR covers more than 20 million square nautical miles of ocean, touches three continents and encompasses more than 67 percent of the Earth's coastline, 30 percent of its landmass, and nearly 40 percent of the world's population.
For theNavy, flag officer tours are usually limited to two-years. This was laid out as official policy in 2006.[21]
| Commander | Dates | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Naval Observer | ||
 | VADMRobert L. Ghormley, Special Naval Observer | August 1940 to March 1942 |
| Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (COMNAVEUR) | ||
| VADMRobert L. Ghormley, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (COMNAVEUR) | March 1942 to April 1942 |
 | ADMHarold R. Stark, COMNAVEUR | April 1942 to August 1945 |
 | ADMH. Kent Hewitt, COMNAVEUR | August 1945 to September 1946 |
.jpg) | ADMRichard L. Conolly, COMNAVEUR. | September 1946 to November 1946 |
| Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (COMNELM) | ||
| ADMRichard L. Conolly, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (COMNELM) in November 1946 | November 1946 to April 1947 |
| Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM) | ||
| ADMRichard L. Conolly, title changed to: Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM) | April 1947 to December 1950 |
 | ADMRobert B. Carney, CINCNELM | December 1950 to June 1952 |
 | ADMJerauld Wright, CINCNELM | June 1952 to August 1953 |
| CINCNELM & COMSCOMLANTFLT | ||
 | ADMJerauld Wright, CINCNELM & COMSCOMLANTFLT | August 1953 to March 1954 |
 | ADMJ.H. Cassady, CINCNELM & COMSCOMLANTFLT | March 1954 to May 1956 |
 | ADMJames L. Holloway Jr., CINCNELM & COMSCOMLANTFLT. | February 1958 to September 1958 |
| CINCNELM & USCOMEASTLANT | ||
| ADMJames L. Holloway Jr., CINCNELM & USCOMEASTLANT | September 1958 to March 1959 |
 | ADMRobert L. Dennison, CINCNELM & USCOMEASTLANT | March 1959 to February 1960 |
| CINCUSNAVEUR, CINCNELM & USCOMEASTLANT | ||
 | ADMHarold P. Smith, CINCNELM, USCOMEASTLANT & CINCUSNAVEUR. Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe established | February 1960 to April 1963 |
.jpg) | ADMDavid L. McDonald, CINCUSNAVEUR, CINCNELM & USCOMEASTLANT | April 1963 to June 1963 |
 | ADMCharles D. Griffin, CINCUSNAVEUR, CINCNELM & USCOMEASTLANT | June 1963 to 1 December 1963 |
| CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | ||
| ADMCharles D. Griffin, CINCUSNAVEUR, USCOMEASTLANT | 1 December 1963 to March 1965 |
 | ADMJohn S. Thach, CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | March 1965 to May 1967 |
 | ADMJohn S. McCain Jr., CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | May 1967 to July 1968 |
 | ADMWaldemar F.A. Wendt, CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | July 1968 to June 1971 |
 | ADMWilliam F. Bringle, CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | June 1971 to August 1973 |
 | ADMW. H. Bagley, CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | August 1973 to May 1974 |
 | ADMHarold E. Shear, CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | May 1974 to May 1975 |
 | ADMDavid H. Bagley, CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | May 1975 to August 1977 |
 | VADMJoseph P. Moorer, CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | August 1977 to September 1980 |
 | VADMRonald J. Hays, CINCUSNAVEUR & USCOMEASTLANT | September 1980 to January 1983 |
| CINCUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH | ||
.jpg) | ADMWilliam J. Crowe Jr., CINCSOUTH (NATO) and CINCUSNAVEUR | January 1983 to May 1983 |
 | ADMWilliam N. Small, CINCUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH | May 1983 to May 1985 |
_Lee_Baggett_Jr.%2c_USN_(uncovered).jpg) | ADMLee Baggett Jr., CINCUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH | May 1985 to November 1985 |
 | ADMArthur S. Moreau Jr., CINCUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH | November 1985 to December 1986 |
 | ADMJames B. Busey, CINCUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH | March 1987 to February 1989 |
| CINCUSNAVEUR, CINCSOUTH & USCOMEASTLANT | ||
| ADMJames B. Busey, CINCUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH | February 1989 to May 1989 |
 | ADMJonathan T. Howe, CINCUSNAVEUR, CINCSOUTH & USCOMEASTLANT | May 1989 to December 1991 |
.jpg) | ADMJeremy M. Boorda, CINCUSNAVEUR, CINCSOUTH & USCOMEASTLANT | December 1991 to April 1994 |
 | ADMLeighton W. Smith Jr., CINCUSNAVEUR, CINCSOUTH & USCOMEASTLANT | April 1994 to July 1996 |
 | ADMT. Joseph Lopez, CINCUSNAVEUR, CINCSOUTH & USCOMEASTLANT | July 1996 to 9 April 1997 |
| CINCUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH | ||
| ADMT. Joseph Lopez, CINCUSNAVEUR, CINCSOUTH | 9 April 1997 to October 1998 |
 | ADMJames O. Ellis, CINCUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH | October 1998 to October 2001 |
 | ADMGregory G. Johnson, CINCUSNAVEUR & CINCSOUTH | October 2001 to October 2002 |
| U.S. Naval Forces Europe (COMUSNAVEUR) | ||
| ADMGregory G. Johnson, COMUSNAVEUR | October 2002 to March 2004 |
| COMUSNAVEUR & COMJFC Naples | ||
| ADMGregory G. Johnson, COMUSNAVEUR & COMJFC Naples | March 2004 to October 2004 |
 | ADMMichael Mullen, COMUSNAVEUR & COMJFC Naples | October 2004 to May 2005 |
 | ADMHarry Ulrich, COMUSNAVEUR & COMJFC Naples | May 2005 to November 2007 |
| COMUSNAVEUR, COMUSNAVAF & COMJFC Naples | ||
 | ADMMark P. Fitzgerald, COMUSNAVEUR, COMUSNAVAF & COMJFC Naples | November 2007 to October 2010 |
 | ADMSamuel J. Locklear III, COMUSNAVEUR, COMUSNAVAF & COMJFC Naples | October 2010 to 24 February 2012 |
 | ADMBruce W. Clingan, COMUSNAVEUR, COMUSNAVAF & COMJFC Naples | 24 February 2012 to 22 July 2014 |
 | ADMMark E. Ferguson III COMUSNAVEUR, COMUSNAVAF & COMJFC Naples | 22 July 2014 to 7 June 2016 |
| COMUSNAVEUR-NAVAF & COMJFC Naples | ||
 | ADMMichelle J. Howard COMUSNAVEUR-NAVAF & COMJFC Naples | 7 June 2016 to 20 October 2017 |
| Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (COMCNE-CNA) and Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMJFC Naples) | ||
 | ADMJames G. Foggo III COMCNE-CNA & COMJFC Naples | 20 October 2017 to 17 July 2020 |
 | ADMRobert P. Burke COMCNE-CNA & COMJFC Naples | 17 July 2020 to 27 June 2022 |
 | ADMStuart B. Munsch COMCNE-CNA & COMJFC Naples | 27 June 2022 to 19 November 2025 |
 | ADMGeorge Wikoff COMCNE-CNA & COMJFC Naples | 19 November 2025 to present |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
