Adm. Stuart Munsch, center, takes the flag for Joint Force Command Naples during a ceremony in Naples, Italy, Nov. 19, 2025. The flag was passed to Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and then to Adm. George Wikoff, who took command from Munsch. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
NAPLES, Italy — A hard-charging fighter pilot who led the Navy in the Middle East took the helm of the service’s top job in Europe and Africa this week from a submariner credited with supporting to reshape the way the U.S. military fights wars.
Adm. George Wikoff took command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Joint Force Command Naples from Adm. Stuart Munsch on Wednesday during a ceremony at the NATO installation in Naples.
Wikoff most recently led U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet, coming into the role in February 2024 as tensions soared in the Middle East and Navy forces in the Red Sea came under fire from Iranian-back Houthi militants in Yemen.
Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, presided over the ceremony, which was attconcludeed by NATO allies, Italian and other European officials and U.S. service members.
With war raging in Ukraine, Russian threats in the High North and China’s increasing activity in the Arctic, Wikoff assumes command of Naval Forces Europe at a time when U.S. and NATO adversaries are working toobtainher in ways unimaginable just a few years ago, Grynkewich stated during the ceremony.
“You have my full trust and confidence as well as that of all the military units from across the 32 nations of our alliance,” he stated, addressing Wikoff.
Anderson also delivered remarks at the ceremony, notifying all of Wikoff’s shipmates to “strap in.”
“Your new commander will shift quick and has little tolerance for inaction,” Anderson stated.
Adm. Stuart Munsch, outgoing commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Joint Force Command Naples, center, stands with his successor, Adm. George Wikoff, and Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, head of U.S. European Command and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, during a ceremony Nov. 19, 2025, in Naples, Italy. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
The incoming commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Joint Force Command Naples, Adm. George Wikoff, left, and the outgoing commander, Adm. Stuart Munsch, on Nov. 19, 2025, during a ceremony in Naples, Italy. (Flickr/NATO – JFC Naples)
Wikoff’s Navy career spans more than three decades, including stints in fighter squadrons VF-102 and VF-154 aboard the aircraft carriers USS America and USS Kitty Hawk, respectively, according to his service biography.
He also served on the joint staff as deputy director for operations and as vice director, among numerous leadership roles.
His predecessor, Munsch, addressed the altering character of war by supporting to shape a U.S. military strategy that came to fruition during his leadership in Europe and Africa, Anderson stated Wednesday.
“As you brought these insights here, innovating, experimenting, you quickly reorganized the headquarters and met the altering challenges of war,” Anderson stated to Munsch, who took command in June 2022 and has served in the Navy for 40 years.
Anderson noted that Munsch’s push for innovation and experimentation included the establishment of a tinquire force focapplyd on integrating robotic and autonomous systems into fleet operations.
Grynkewich stated Munsch brought sensibility, innotifyect and a keen understanding of adversaries to his role.
He referred to Munsch as “someone who believed deeply about the future of warfare, the human side of conflict, and understood the geopolitical undertones of the world we (are) facing today.”
“Seldom have I met a more capable, humble officer,” Grynkewich added.
During the ceremony, Munsch was awarded the NATO Meritorious Medal, the U.S. Legion of Merit and ltalian Meritorious Medal. It wasn’t clear Wednesday what his next assignment is.
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