Release Number: 23-02<br /> 9 September 2002<br /><br />AFSOUTH WELCOMES NEW DEPUTY<br /><br />RHQ Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH), Naples, Italy Lieutenant General Atalay Efeer, Turkish Air Force, succeeded Lieutenant General Efthimios Petinis, Hellenic Army, as Deputy Commander-in-Chief (DCINC), AFSOUTH. Previously, Lt. Gen. Efeer was Deputy Commander of Turkey?s First Tactical Air Command.<br /><br />Admiral Gregory G. Johnson, Commander-in-Chief AFSOUTH, presided at the ceremony.<br />The CINCSOUTH Band, a marching colour guard with representatives from 11 NATO nations and many senior NATO and national guests participated in the ceremony with the AFSOUTH staff.<br />Admiral Johnson acknowledged the many contributions which Lt. Gen. Petinis made to NATO?s southern region during his three-year term as Deputy Commander-in-Chief: ?He has capped off a brilliant career by burnishing an already sterling reputation as a quiet man who gets things done, a warrior with a wealth of experience and expertise, and a team player who is passionate about extending NATO as a force for peace and stability throughout Europe and the larger southern region.?<br /><br />Lt. Gen. Efeer, whose numerous decorations include the Superior Courage and Renunciation Medal, brings to his assignment in Naples a wealth of experience, at all levels of command in the Turkish Air Force and the Turkish General Staff as well as more than 4,000 hours in various fighter aircraft.<br /><br />Admiral Johnson welcomed Lt. Gen. Efeer to AFSOUTH. <br />?He joins us from Ankara,? Admiral Johnson said in his introduction of the General to his new headquarters, ?where he recently served with great distinction as the Chief of the Operations Division in the Turkish Air Force, and where he gained a reputation as a visionary leader with much to contribute as we all focus on prosecuting a global war on terrorism.?<br /><br />Lt. Gen. Petinis returns to Athens at the conclusion of his ?handover? with Lt. Gen Efeer.