Press Release (2002)089 2 July 2002

Release of General William Kernan as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic NATO’s Defence Planning Committee (DPC) agreed on June 26, 2002 to a request from President Bush to release General William Kernan from his responsibilities as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. In the name of the governments represented on the Committee, the DPC agreed to his request with great regret, and expressed its deep and lasting gratitude to General Kernan for his distinguished service as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. The DPC also agreed to consider the proposal that as an interim step, the Alliance agree to keep the SACLANT position unfilled pending agreement on SACLANT’s future as part of the NATO Command Structure Review; and that DSACLANT would assume the responsibility for day-to-day operations on an interim basis.

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