# Nato

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato/237265>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 30, 2004, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato/237265 "2004-03-30T06:46:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DuhCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DuhCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DuhCow)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato/237265/1 "2004-03-30T06:46:21Z")

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why is it that the secretary general of nato has always been an american? is it simply because the u.s. is the most dominant power in nato, or was it a pre-condition for the u.s.’ involvement in nato?

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato/237265/2 "2004-03-30T06:57:08Z")

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From [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO#Secretaries_General_of_NATO):

> [@](#):
>
> Secretaries General of NATO
> 
> Hastings Lionel Ismay, 1st Lord Ismay (United Kingdom): 4 April 1952 - 16 May 1957  
> Paul-Henri Spaak (Belgium): 16 May 1957 - 21 April 1961  
> Dirk Stikker (Netherlands): 21 April 1961 - 1 August 1964  
> Manlio Brosio (Italy): 1 August 1964 - 1 October 1971  
> Joseph Luns (Netherlands): 1 October 1971 - 25 June 1984  
> Peter Carington, 6th Lord Carrington (United Kingdom): 25 June 1984 - 1 July 1988  
> Manfred Wörner (Germany): 1 July 1988- 13 August 1994  
> Sergio Balanzino (Italy, acting): 13 August - 17 October 1994  
> Willy Claes (Belgium): 17 October 1994 - 20 October 1995  
> Sergio Balanzino (Italy, acting): 20 October - 5 December 1995  
> Javier Solana (Spain): 5 December 1995 - 6 October 1999  
> George Robertson, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (United Kingdom): 14 October 1999 - 1 January 2004  
> Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (Netherlands): 1 January 2004 - present.

So it seems there has _never_ been an American Secretary General of NATO.

However, the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe has always been an American, most likely because the US contributes the largest military force to NATO.

> [@](#):
>
> Supreme Allied Commanders Europe (SACEUR)
> 
> Dwight D. Eisenhower: 2 April 1951 - 30 May 1952  
> Matthew Ridgway: 30 May 1952 - 11 July 1953  
> Alfred Gruenther: 1 July 1953 - 20 November 1956  
> Lauris Norstad: 20 November 1956 - 1 January 1963  
> Lyman Lemnitzer: 1 January 1963 - 1 July 1969  
> Andrew Goodpaster: 1 July 1969 - 15 December 1974  
> Alexander Haig: 15 December 1974 - 1 July 1979  
> Bernard Rogers: 1 July 1979 - 26 June 1987  
> John Galvin: 26 June 1987 - 23 June 1992  
> John Shalikashvili: 23 June 1992 - 22 October 1993  
> George Joulwan: 22 October 1993 - 11 July 1997  
> Wesley Clark: 11 July 1997 - 3 May 2000  
> Joseph Ralston: 3 May 2000 - 17 January 2003  
> James L. Jones: 17 January 2003 - present  
> Note: starting with Ridgway all SACEUR have been simultaneously Commander in Chief, US European Command (CINCEUR

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**Author:** ![mcbiggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7c8e57/32.png) [@mcbiggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcbiggins)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato/237265/3 "2004-03-30T07:01:24Z")

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**Friedo** beat me to it. My [link](http://www.nato.int/cv/secgen.htm) has pictures. As though that were worth anything.