BRUSSELS — Senior NATO officials said on Thursday that Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, currently the commander of American Air Force units in Europe and Africa, was emerging as the likely candidate to be nominated by President Obama to be the alliance’s supreme military commander.
An opening to serve as NATO’s next military commander surfaced this week as the previous nominee, Gen. John R. Allen of the Marine Corps, announced that he was retiring.
General Allen, who served until earlier this month as the top commander in Afghanistan, said he was retiring to focus on family health issues. He had been caught up in the scandal that led to the resignation of David H. Petraeus as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Last month, the Pentagon officially cleared him of any misconduct after an investigation into his exchange of e-mails with Jill Kelley, a Tampa, Fla. socialite.
General Breedlove at present holds several positions. He is the Air Force’s top officer for both the European Command and for the Africa Command.
He was commissioned into the Air Force in 1977 from the R.O.T.C. program at George Tech. According to his official biography, he has commanded a fighter squadron, an operations group and three fighter wings.
Before his current command position, General Breedlove also served as vice chief of staff of the Air Force.
Senior NATO officials described General Breedlove as the leading candidate for the top alliance military post, but spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced by Mr. Obama.
The disclosure on the likely personnel decision came as Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta joined other defense ministers from the alliance for a two-day session. The future of the mission in Afghanistan was on the agenda for the defense ministers' meeting, the first since Mr. Obama ordered American forces in Afghanistan to be reduced by 34,000 troops within a year.
Gen. Philip M. Breedlove Likely Candidate for Top NATO Post
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Gen. Philip M. Breedlove Likely Candidate for Top NATO Post
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Gen. Philip M. Breedlove Likely Candidate for Top NATO Post
