Lieutenant General Williams Takes Lead of Allied Land Command

IZMIR, Turkey – U.S. Army Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams assumed command of the Allied Land Command during a ceremony held at the LANDCOM Headquarters, June 24, 2016.

Williams, the third commander of LANDCOM, assumed command from Italian Lieutenant General Paolo Ruggiero, who served as the acting Cmmander after General John W. Nicholson relinquished command to assume duties as the Commander of the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. Williams previously served as the Commander of U.S. Army-Africa in Vicenza, Italy.

The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, was also part of the official party for the ceremony.

The Commander of Allied Land Command is one of the three single service commanders subordinate to Allied Command Operations in Mons, Belgium. Williams will lead LANDCOM in its mission to provide land expertise in support of Alliance land forces’ capability, readiness, interoperability and standardization.

During a crisis, Williams is responsible for leading LANDCOM in providing mission command of NATO land forces in support of the Joint Force Commands to accomplish the Allied level of ambition.

Williams said the command must be ready for a crisis situation and help “ensure peace”.

“This is NATO’s most important weapon,” he said.

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