Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
| Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms | |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Branch | ACO |
| Part of | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| Location | Mons, Belgium 50°30′01.6″N 3°58′59.7″E / 50.500444°N 3.983250°E |
| Mottos | "Vigilia Pretium Libertatis" (Latin) "Vigilance is the Price of Liberty" |
| Website | shape |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | General Alexus Grynkewich (USAF) |
| Deputy Commander | Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer (Royal Air Force) |
| Chief of Staff | General Markus Laubenthal (German Army) |
| Insignia | |
| Achievement | |
| Standard | |
The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is the military headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Allied Command Operations (ACO) that commands all NATO operations worldwide. SHAPE is situated in the village of Casteau, near Mons, Belgium.
ACO's and SHAPE's commander is titled Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and is always a U.S. four-star general officer or flag officer who also serves as Commander, U.S. European Command.
From 1951 to 2003, SHAPE was the headquarters of Allied Command Europe (ACE). Since 2003 SHAPE has been the headquarters of ACO, controlling NATO also outside Europe. Even though the geographical scope of its activities was extended, SHAPE retained its traditional name with reference to Europe.