Appointment of Lieutenant General Kernan to succeed Admiral Gehman as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic

NATO has appointed Lieutenant General William F. Kernan, United States Army, to succeed Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr., as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic in September 2000. In letters from the President of the United States of America to the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, who is Chairman of the Defence Planning Committee, the President asked member governments to agree to release Admiral Gehman and to approve his nomination of Lieutenant General Kernan as Admiral Gehman's successor.

The Committee agreed with great regret to release Admiral Gehman from his assignment as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. They expressed to Admiral Gehman, in the name of NATO governments, lasting gratitude for his distinguished service.

In this regard, the President of the United States of America was asked to nominate an officer of the United States for appointment as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, to succeed Admiral Gehman. In response to this request, the President of the United States informed the Committee of his nomination of Lieutenant General William F. Kernan, for consideration as successor to Admiral Gehman with the same powers and functions, and of his intention to appoint him to the grade of general with the advice and consent of the Senate while serving in that position.

In addition to the NATO position, Lieutenant General Kernan will be assigned as Commander in Chief, United States Joint Forces Command.