"Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nomination: Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli for appointment to the grade of general while serving as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe," the Defense Department said in a press release.
NATO has also agreed with Biden's decision to appoint Cavoli, the release said, adding that the commander oversees the 100,000 US troops and 40,000 allied troops deployed throughout Europe.
Cavoli, a Eurasia expert and Afghan War officer, is currently serving as the commander of the US Army forces in Europe and Africa. He assumed command of US Army Europe and Africa in October 2020 after commanding US Army Europe since January 2018.
Cavoli's staff experience includes service as the Director for Russia on the Joint Staff. He is a foreign area officer with a concentration on Eurasia, and speaks Italian, Russian and French.
Since the start of Russia's special operation in Ukraine on 24 February, Biden has deployed 20,000 troops to Europe, in addition to the 80,000 troops that were previously deployed. NATO has deployed troops to Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.