US Naval Forces Europe-Africa welcome new commander

NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Naples and US Naval Forces Europe-Africa welcome US Navy Admiral James G. Foggo III as their new commander during a ceremony held at the headquarters of JFC Naples, October 20.

Foggo assumes command from U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard and comes to Naples from the Pentagon where he served as the director of Navy Staff.

Foggo is the 31st commander of JFC Naples.

The change-of-command ceremony also had a bit of a homecoming feel to it. Foggo is a former commander of the Naples-based 6th Fleet and local NATO maritime forces. Some of his other experience in Naples includes serving as a submarine group commander, deputy fleet commander, and as a NATO task force commander for an operation against Libya.

“I’m elated to be back in Bella Napoli, a city that has hosted the United States Navy since the end of the Second World War,” Foggo said.

As commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, Foggo will be responsible for leading full spectrum maritime operations in concert with allied, coalition, joint, interagency and other partners to advance U.S. interests while enhancing maritime security and stability in Europe and Africa.

During Howard’s tenure at the helm of JFC Naples, the vision to create the NATO Strategic Direction South Hub was realized, and the new center is slated to be fully operational at the end of this year. The NSD-S Hub, under the roof and lead of JFC Naples, is designed to focus on a variety of current and potential issues to include destabilization, potential terrorism, radicalization, migration and environmental concerns.

During the ceremony, Scaparrotti also touted the ability of Howard and her team to conduct 11 operations and four exercises while supporting a trifecta of U.S. geographic commands in NATO.

“With all of these exciting things going on, it is hard to leave, but I could not be more proud of each and every one of you,” said Howard to the international crowd at JFC Naples.