Joint Force Command Norfolk

Joint Force Command - Norfolk (JFC-NF) is a joint operational level command part of the NATO Military Command Structure under Allied Command Operations.[4] Its headquarters is located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States.

Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC-NF)
Coat of arms
Active2018-present
Allegiance North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Part ofAllied Command Operations
HeadquartersNorfolk, Virginia, United States[1]
Commanders
Current
commander		Vice Admiral Andrew L. Lewis, USN
Deputy CommanderRear Admiral Andrew Betton, Royal Navy[2][3]

Background

In late 2017-early 2018, NATO approved two new commands, a rear area transit command which was finally announced as the Joint Support and Enabling Command, to be located at Ulm, Germany, and a new command for the Atlantic.[5] Pentagon spokesman Johnny Michael remarked that "NATO is refocusing on the Atlantic in recognition of the great power competition prompted by a resurgent Russia."[6]

In March 2018 Chair of the Military Committee General Petr Pavel announced that the new Atlantic command would become part of the NATO Force Structure at the level of a Joint Force Command, similar to the two that exist at Brunssum and Naples. On 7 June 2018 the Secretary-General said the new JFC would have its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, in the United States.[7] The name was confirmed as Joint Force Command Norfolk at the NATO Summit in July. It was to be commanded by the Vice Admiral who commands the United States Second Fleet.[8]

Establishment

The command was established due to the rising Russian threat, making the Atlantic sea routes a critical domain. Its counterpart 2nd Fleet was established because the United States Navy "needed a commander to direct sustained combat operations in the Atlantic".[9] In January 2019, U.S. Navy releases said the command would aim to work seamlessly with allies and NATO partners in all domains and to provide awareness and synchronization with allies, while ensuring readiness and contributing to NATO objectives and core tasks. In this role, the command would contribute to ..NATO’s warfighting capability.[10] It was formally activated by NATO's North Atlantic Council on 26 July 2019.[11]

Vice Admiral Andrew L. Lewis, USN was appointed as the first commander, who also commands the recently re-established United States Second Fleet also headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia.[12][13][14] The Deputy Commander is from the Royal Navy, the Chief of Staff position will alternative between a between a German and a Spanish officer, the operations officer is Norwegian, the plans officer is French and the support officer is Danish.[15]

The command will be declared as initially operationally capable on 17 September 2020 at 1430 Central European Time at its headquarters, NSA Hampton Roads.[16] It aims for full operational capability by the end of 2021.[17]

References
  1. "NATO Secretary General Annual Report 2018" (PDF). nato.int. NATO. 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  2. Mackie, Colin (9 October 2019). "Admirals October 2019" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 9 October 2019. September 2019 - Rear-Admiral Andrew Betton: Deputy Commander, NATO Joint Force Command, Norfolk, Virginia
  3. Verbis, Drew (11 July 2019). "USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) [Image 9 of 17]". dvidshub.net. dvidshub.net. Retrieved 8 December 2019. oyal Navy Rear Adm. Guy Robinson, deputy commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO), speaks with Royal Navy Rear Adm. Andrew Betton, deputy commander, Joint Force Command – Norfolk (JFC-NF)
  4. "SHAPE Military Command Structure". shape.nato.int. NATO SHAPE. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019. The operational level consists of three standing Joint Force Commands (JFCs): one in Brunssum, The Netherlands, one in Naples, Italy and one in Norfolk, Virginia.
  5. Mehta, Aaron (14 February 2018). "US, Germany likely home to new NATO commands".
  6. Browne, Ryan. "US Navy re-establishes Second Fleet amid Russia tensions". CNN. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2019-02-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. Babb, Carla (2018-08-06). "US Navy's Top Admiral Cites Increased Threat in Ocean Nearest Washington". voanews.com. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
  9. Rear Adm. Doug Perry, director of joint and fleet operations at Fleet Forces Command, quoted in "2nd Fleet Functions, AOR Still to Be Determined". United States Naval Institute. 2018-11-14.
  10. "Joint Force Command Norfolk Conducts Trans-Atlantic Security Seminar". Joint Force Command Norfolk Public Affairs. 2019-01-15.
  11. "JFC Norfolk Formally Activated By NAC". SHAPE Public Affairs. Brussels, Belgium. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  12. Babb, Carla (2018-08-06). "US Navy's Top Admiral Cites Increased Threat in Ocean Nearest Washington". voanews.com. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
  13. LaGrone, Sam (2018-11-29). "U.S. 2nd Fleet Racing Toward a 2019 Operational Capability". USNI News. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  14. "Joint Force Command Norfolk holds seminar". NATO SHAPE. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  15. Eckstein, Megan (5 February 2020). "2nd Fleet, NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk Seek Further Integration of Allied Navies". USNI News. Washington DC. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  16. "NATO's Atlantic Command to be declared operational". NATO. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  17. Shelborune, Mallory (17 September 2020). "Joint Force Command Norfolk Reaches Initial Operational Capability". USNI News. Norfolk USA. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
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