General Stéphane Abrial of France, Commander of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT), spoke before the Atlantic Council about ACT’s efforts to improve Alliance capabilities to meet current and future challenges as well as ACT’s role in NATO’s next Strategic Concept.

LtGen Brent Scowcroft, the chairman of the Council’s International Advisory Board and former National Security Advisor, provided introductory remarks.  General Abrial’s address was the latest in the Council’s Commanders Series, a lecture series of high-level U.S. and European military leaders hosted by the International Security Program.General Abrial is the first non-U.S. commander of ACT, a duty he took up in September 2009. His command at ACT constitutes a major symbol of the renewed transatlantic balance and is a vital part of France’s reintegration into NATO’s military structure.

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General Stéphane Abrial:

General Abrial is an air force fighter pilot by trade and has commanded at all levels of the French Air Force.  He participated in Operation Desert Storm as the commander of a French fighter wing and later served on NATO’s Military Staff.  He has also served in the French President’s and Prime Minister’s private offices and was France’s Air Force Chief of Staff from 2006 to 2009.

The Commanders Series is generously supported by Saab AB.