Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia

Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia
Command insignia of Navy Region Europe Africa Southwest Asia
Active	1941 - present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Regional Commander
Role	Management of Naval installations and shore support staff in European, African and Southwest Asian theaters
Part of	United States Naval Forces Europe Naval Installations Command
Headquartered	Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy
Nickname(s)	EURAFSWA
Commanders
Current commander	RADM Rick Williamson
Chief of Staff	CAPT Lawrence Vasquez
Executive Director	Ms. Linda Ward, SES
Command Master Chief	CMDCM Gregory Vidaurri

Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA) is one of eleven current naval regions responsible for the operation and management of Naval shore installations and assigned staff in the European, African and Southwest Asian theaters of operation. EURAFSWA provides the shore support to the United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa, however it is a part of Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC). Due to its large area, the region is one of the three CNIC regions commanded by a two star Rear Admiral, currently RADM Rick Williamson, and is headquartered on Naval Support Activity Naples Italy. ^[1]

History

EURAFSWA traces its roots back to a hand shake between Winston Churchill and General Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1941. In 1942 Admiral Harold F. Stark set up offices at 20 Grosvenor Square (7 North Audley Street), marking the beginning of the leadership of U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CNE).

In November 2001, as part of a realignment effort undertaken by CNE, Rear Adm. David T. Hart Jr., as CNE Deputy, took on the additional duty as Navy Region Europe's (CNRE) commander. Three years later, Commander Maritime Air Allied Naval Forces South (COMMARAIRSOUTH) was renamed Commander Maritime Air Naples (CMAN) under CNRE’s cognizance. It was at this time that CNRE started relocating from London to Naples, Italy, relinquishing the lease on the Navy building rented from the Duke of Westminister for 100 pounds per year.

In January 2009, operational and logistical shore service support of Navy Region Southwest Asia (which included NSA Bahrain), along with Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa, was realigned under the scope of Navy Region Europe. On April 21, 2009, Navy Region Europe officially changed its name to Commander Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia. ^[2]

Subordinate Units/Installations

As an Echelon III Commander, Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia reports directly to the Commander, Naval Installations Command for the operation and readiness of the following subordinate commands/installations:

• Naval Support Activity Bahrain
  • Marine Corps Security Force Company Bahrain
• Naval Support Activity Naples
• Commander, U.S. Naval Activities Spain
  • Naval Station Rota, Spain
  • Marine Corps Security Force Company Europe
• Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa
• Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Crete, Greece
• Naval Air Station Sigonella
• Naval Support Facility Deveselu, Deveselu, Romania, supporting the AEGIS Ashore Ballistic Missile Defense System

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Navy website http://www.navy.mil/swf/index.asp.