Curtis Scaparrotti

Curtis Michael "Mike" Scaparrotti (born March 5, 1956) is a retired 4-star general of the United States Army, who last served as the Commander of United States European Command. He concurrently served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe.[1][2] Scaparrotti previously served as the Director of the Joint Staff. Prior to his tour with the Joint Staff, Scaparrotti served as Commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command and Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan, the Commanding General of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division.[3]

Curtis Scaparrotti
Scaparrotti as SACEUR and as commander of EUCOM
Nickname(s)	"Mike"
Born	(1956-03-05) March 5, 1956 Logan, Ohio, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1978–2019
Rank	General
Commands held	Supreme Allied Commander Europe United States European Command United Nations Command ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command United States Forces Korea I Corps International Security Assistance Force Joint Command 82nd Airborne Division
Battles/wars	Operation Joint Endeavor Operation Support Hope Iraq War War in Afghanistan
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (5) Bronze Star Medal (3)

In addition, Scaparrotti has served in key leadership positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic level of the United States military to include Director of Operations, United States Central Command and as the 69th Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy. He has commanded forces during Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Support Hope (Zaire/Rwanda), Joint Endeavour (Bosnia-Herzegovina), and Assured Response (Liberia).[4]

In 1978, Scaparrotti graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College. He holds a Master's Degree in Administrative Education from the University of South Carolina.[5]

Career

Scaparrotti's initial duty assignments were as a rifle and anti-tank platoon leader, operations officer and company commander in 3rd Battalion, 325th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 1984, Scaparrotti completed the infantry officer advanced course at Fort Benning, Georgia, followed by studies in Administrative Education at the University of South Carolina, where he earned his Master of Education degree.

Scaparrotti returned to West Point in 1985 where he was assigned as a tactical officer and the superintendent's aide-de-camp until 1988. After his assignment here, he continued his military studies at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. By July 1989, Scaparrotti went on to serve with the 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York, where he was the operations officer for 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment and then moved to division headquarters as the chief of the operations branch.

From 1992 to 1994, Scaparrotti worked in Washington, D.C., at the Army Total Personnel Command and the Army Chief of Staff's office. In May 1994, Scaparrotti took command of 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Combat Team, Southern European Task Force in Vicenza, Italy, and in that time he commanded the battalion during Operations Support Hope in Zaire/Rwanda, Joint Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Assured Response (1996) in Liberia.

Scaparrotti returned to Fort Drum in 1996 as the 10th Mountain Division's operations officer and from there he continued his studies at the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks. He served as the chief of Army Initiatives Group in the Deputy Chief of Staff's Office for Plans and Operations in Washington, D. C. in 1998. By 1999, Scaparrotti returned to Fort Bragg to command the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division before he moved on to serve as the assistant deputy director for Joint Operations on the Joint Staff, Washington, D. C., from 2001 to 2003.

Scaparrotti with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Philip M. Breedlove and Joseph Dunford, 3 May 2016

From July 2003 to July 2004, Scaparrotti served as the Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) for the 1st Armored Division during the Iraq War. From August 2004 to July 2006, Scaparrotti served as the 69th Commandant of Cadets, United States Military Academy, at West Point, New York.[6] Thereafter, he was assigned as the Director of Operations (J3) for United States Central Command (CENTCOM), providing oversight to all military operations throughout the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and also including operations in Somalia, at a critical phase in those missions.

Scaparrotti and Israel's military chief Gadi Eizenkot, 16 August 2016

Scaparrotti and Secretary General of the Italy-USA Foundation Corrado Maria Daclon at the Italian Parliament

Scaparrotti assumed command of the 82nd Airborne Division on October 1, 2008 and deployed the headquarters to Eastern Afghanistan where he served as the Commanding General Combined Joint Task Force 82 and Regional Command East.[7]

On October 15, 2010 Scaparrotti assumed command of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) at Fort Lewis, Washington.[8] While serving as I Corps commander, Scaparrotti served concurrently as Commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command and Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan from July 11, 2011[9] to June 12, 2012.[10] In July 2012, Scaparrotti took over as Director of the Joint Staff.[11] He was succeeded as I Corps commander by Lieutenant General Robert B. Brown on July 3, 2012.[12]

In August 2013, Scaparrotti took over command of U.S. forces in South Korea, replacing General James D. Thurman.[13] In April 2016, he was succeeded as USFK Commander by General Vincent K. Brooks. In May 2016 he assumed duties as Commander of European Command and as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. In May 2019 he was succeeded by General Tod D. Wolters.[14]

Scaparrotti also sits on the Atlantic Council's[15] Board of Directors.

Awards and decorations

Scaparrotti's awards and decorations include:[16]

Combat Action Badge

Expert Infantryman Badge

Ranger tab

Master Parachutist Badge

German Parachutist Badge in bronze

Joint Staff Identification Badge

Army Staff Identification Badge

United States European Command Badge

82nd Airborne Division CSIB

325th Infantry Regiment DUI

6 Overseas Service Bars

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters
	Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters
	Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
	Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
	Army Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
	Valorous Unit Award
	Meritorious Unit Commendation
	Superior Unit Award
	National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Korea Defense Service Medal
	Armed Forces Service Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal with one service star
	Army Service Ribbon
	Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 4
	NATO Meritorious Service Medal
	NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with two bronze service stars
	Order of National Security Merit, Tong-il Medal (Republic of Korea)
	Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland[17]
	Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Grand Officer
	Order of Duke Trpimir (Croatia)

• In May 2018, Scaparrotti was awarded the Distinguished Military Leadership Award of the Atlantic Council.
• In October 2019, he received the America Award of the Italy-USA Foundation.

References

1. http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_129181.htm
2. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-113shrg87878/pdf/CHRG-113shrg87878.pdf
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. , U.S. Military Academy, August 4, 2004. Archived December 30, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
7. 82nd Airborne assumes command in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. Army News, June 4, 2009.
8. I Corps Salutes New Leader, Tacoma News Tribune, October 16, 2010.
9. "Lieutenant General Curtis Scaparrotti". Isaf.nato.int. International Security Assistance Force. July 11, 2011. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
10. "DVIDS — Images — Change of command ceremony [Image 2 of 3]". Dvidshub.net. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
12. http://www.lewis-mcchord.army.mil/corps/CG-BIO.html%5B%5D
13. , Stripes.com, August 7, 2013
14. Supreme Allied Commander Europe, wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Allied_Commander_Europe
15. "Board of Directors". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
17. Prezydent odznaczył generała Scaparrottiego Orderem Zasługi RP – prezydent.pl

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN

Military offices
Preceded by James D. Thurman	Commander, United Nations Command 2013–2016	Succeeded by Vincent K. Brooks
Preceded by Philip M. Breedlove	Commander, United States European Command 2016–2019	Succeeded by Tod D. Wolters
Preceded by Philip M. Breedlove	Supreme Allied Commander Europe 2016–2019	Succeeded by Tod D. Wolters