Supreme Allied Commander
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Supreme Allied Commander is the title given to the most senior commander of some multinational organisations. It originated as a term used by the Western Allies during World War II and is currently used by NATO.
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[edit] World War II
During World War II, there were two areas which had supreme commanders in name and two others which effectively had supreme commanders. The two in name were the Supreme Allied Command South East Asia (SACSEA) and Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force (SCAEF) in north west Europe. The Allied Mediterranean theatre's Commander-in-Chief, Allied Force, the American Commander-in-Chief South West Pacific and Commander-in-Chief Pacific Ocean Areas also functioned as de facto supreme commanders. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur served with distinction in the former position. These commanders reported to the Combined Chiefs of Staff, although in the case of the American commanders in the Pacific and SACSEA, the relevant national command authorities of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Chiefs of Staff Committee had responsibility of the main conduct of the war in the theatre of operations.
General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower was probably the most high profile of the supreme commanders. He served successively as the Allied Mediterranean theatre's Commander in Chief, Allied Force and then as European theatre's Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force (SCAEF). Eisenhower was succeeded as Commander in Chief, Allied Force by Field Marshal Henry Maitland Wilson who was in turn succeeded by Field Marshal Harold Alexander. The post of Supreme Commander South East Asia (SACSEA) was occupied throughout its existence by Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Following the end of the war, the term came into use again with the formation of NATO, at which point Eisenhower again found himself a Supreme Allied Commander.
[edit] NATO
The NATO structure is divided into two commands, one for operations and one for transformation. Each has a Supreme Allied Commander as highest ranking military officer.
- Allied Command Operations (ACO) is located at SHAPE, Mons, Belgium. It is headed by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), a U.S. four star general with the dual-hatted role of heading U.S. European Command. (For legal reasons SACEUR has retained the traditional title including Europe although the responsibilities were extended to all allied operations in 2003). The SACEUR and Secretary General of NATO both hold "Head of State" status, so as to be able to cut through red tape and contact anyone in the world in order to hold the Alliance together.
- Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is headed by the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), a U.S. flag (four star) admiral with the dual-hatted role as commander U.S. Joint Forces Command (COMUSJFCOM).
[edit] History
Until June 2003, the operational structure of NATO was divided into "Europe" and "Atlantic". Correspondingly the commanders were known as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).
The first SACEUR (1951-1952) was General Dwight Eisenhower. The current (since 2003) Commander is General James L. Jones (USMC), who succeeded General Joseph Ralston (USAF). The Supreme Commander is always an American. For a full list of officers appointed to the position of SACEUR, please see list
In June 2003, the SACLANT organisation was decommissioned and Allied Command Transformation was established. This is a transitory command, intended to reshape the NATO command structure to respond to rapidly changing world situations and technology. The commander of the organization is General Lance L. Smith, U.S. Air Force. The headquarters of ACT is at the old SACLANT headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
[edit] See also
- Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)
- Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT)
- Generalissimo
- Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps
- Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force
