Community News · Norfolk, VA
NATO Command Norfolk Gets First Non-American Leader; Personnel Grows to 500+
In early October, the U.S. Navy turned over control of NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk to British General Nick Perry, marking the first time a non-American has led the command. The installation in Norfolk, Virginia, home to the only NATO commands in North America, has expanded from 47 personnel in 2024 to more than 500 troops from 26 NATO countries. The expansion comes amid an eight-month U.S.-Iran war during which American forces have increasingly relied on European NATO bases for staging, repairs, and medical evacuation. The command change is part of broader efforts to make the alliance more palatable to a Trump administration that has questioned NATO's value.