Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove is now officially the 35th commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as of an Aug. 1 ceremony held in Germany.
Breedlove, who was nominated in May, will be in charge of the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command.
The 33-year Air Force veteran, has served in six command positions and served a third of his career in USAFE before his appointment as vice chief of staff in January 2011.
He succeeds Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, who was nominated to replace Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.
Schwartz will complete his four-year term at the end this month.
During the ceremony, Schwartz presented Welsh with the Defense Distinguished Service Medal first oak leaf cluster.
