Curtis Michael "Mike" Scaparrotti (born March 5, 1956) is a retired United States Army four-star general who last served as the commander of United States European Command. He concurrently served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe.[2][3] 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.[4]

Mike Scaparrotti
Scaparrotti in uniform, active General
Nickname(s)"Scap"[1]
Born (1956-03-05) March 5, 1956 (age 68)
Logan, Ohio, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1978–2019
RankGeneral
CommandsSupreme 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/warsOperation Joint Endeavor
Operation Support Hope
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (5)
Bronze Star (3)
Alma materUnited States Military Academy (BS)
University of South Carolina (MEd)

In addition, Scaparrotti served in key leadership positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic level of the United States military, including as director of operations, United States Central Command and as the 69th commandant of cadets at the United States Military Academy. He commanded forces during Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Support Hope (Zaire/Rwanda), Joint Endeavour (Bosnia-Herzegovina), and Assured Response (Liberia).[5]

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.[6]

Career

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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 there, 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 was stationed 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.[7] 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 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 of Combined Joint Task Force 82 and Regional Command East.[8]

On October 15, 2010, Scaparrotti assumed command of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) at Fort Lewis, Washington.[9] 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[10] to June 12, 2012.[11] In July 2012, Scaparrotti took over as director of the Joint Staff.[12] He was succeeded as I Corps commander by Lieutenant General Robert B. Brown on July 3, 2012.[13]

In August 2013, Scaparrotti took over command of U.S. forces in South Korea, replacing General James D. Thurman.[14] 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 April 2018, Scaparotti met General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, under the auspices of the NATO-Russia Council, in Baku. This act represented the first attempt to build up a dialogue with Moscow after the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and Putin's declaration to empower Russian military capabilities.[15] In May 2019 he was succeeded by General Tod D. Wolters.[16]

Scaparrotti also sits on the Atlantic Council's[17] board of directors.

Awards and decorations

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Scaparrotti's awards and decorations include:[18]

   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[19]
  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

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  1. ^ Vandiver, John. "For Next EUCOM Chief, Old Threats Made New Poses Challenge". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved November 22, 2020. "His experience as a commander at every echelon while facing incredibly demanding security challenges in our country's hottest spots give him the experience and skills needed for Europe and our nation at this time," current EUCOM chief Gen. Philip Breedlove said in a statement. "'Scap' is a superb match for the security situation in Europe as it is rapidly evolving and becoming more complex."
  2. ^ "NATO announces nomination of General Curtis M. Scaparrotti as Supreme Allied Commander Europe".
  3. ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-113shrg87878/pdf/CHRG-113shrg87878.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ "United States Forces Korea | Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti". Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  5. ^ "United States Forces Korea | Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti". Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  6. ^ "United States Forces Korea | Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti". Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  7. ^ http://www.usma.edu/Publicaffairs/PV/040820/comm.htm , U.S. Military Academy, August 4, 2004. Archived December 30, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ 82nd Airborne assumes command in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. Army News, June 4, 2009.
  9. ^ I Corps Salutes New Leader, Tacoma News Tribune, October 16, 2010. [dead link]
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "DVIDS — Images — Change of command ceremony [Image 2 of 3]". Dvidshub.net. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  12. ^ "Joint Chiefs of Staff Official Web Site". Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  13. ^ "Commanding General". lewis-mcchord.army.mil. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Scaparrotti to take over USFK during times of change". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  15. ^ Wojciechowski, Slawomir (January 1, 2019). "Military Security in Central and Eastern Europe – from overarching principles to current NATO perspectives" (PDF). Scientific Journal of the Military University of Land Forces. 51 (3): 550. doi:10.5604/01.3001.0013.5009. ISSN 2544-7122. OCLC 8598142162. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Paperity.org.
  16. ^ cf. Supreme Allied Commander Europe
  17. ^ "Board of Directors". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  18. ^ "United States Forces Korea | Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti". Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  19. ^ Prezydent odznaczył generała Scaparrottiego Orderem Zasługi RP Archived 2017-04-15 at the Wayback Machine – prezydent.pl
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Military offices
Preceded by
Leo Brooks
Commandant of Cadets of the United States Military Academy
2004–2006
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division
2008–2010
Succeeded by
James Huggins
Preceded by Commanding General of I Corps
2010–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command
2011–2012
Succeeded by
Deputy Commander of United States Forces-Afghanistan
2011–2012
Preceded by Director of the Joint Staff
2012-2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of United Nations Command, Commander of United States Forces Korea and Commander of ROK/US Combined Forces Command
2013–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe
2016–2019
Succeeded by