Demian Smith, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, Albania, provides welcoming remarks for participants of the USEUCOM Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) workshop. The event was held in Albania’s capital city during the week of Feb. 5-10. More than 100 personnel working on humanitarian issues throughout the U.S. European Command region gathered at the workshop to discuss future projects.

Lyudmyla Kyrylenko, a Humanitarian Assistance Program Manager with the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation in Ukraine, provides a status update on the projects being conducted and planned under the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) program. While the current conflict with Russia has postponed some projects, others are proceeding in areas less affected by the war. Ms. Kyrylenko was a featured speaker at the USEUCOM OHDACA workshop that was held in Tirana, Albania during the week of Feb. 5-10. More than 100 personnel working on humanitarian issues throughout the U.S. European Command region gathered at the workshop to discuss future projects.

A delegate from the Slovakian armed forces displays his military chaplain patch at the 34th annual International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference (IMCCC) in Bucharest, Romania, Feb. 6-10, 2023.

During a ceremony held in Trondheim, Norway, on Feb. 15, 2023, Norwegian Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway chief of defense; U.S. Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau; and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Minnesota National Guard’s adjutant general; signed a State Partnership agreement between the Minnesota National Guard and Norway. The agreement further expands the 50-year relationship between the Minnesota NG and Norway and demonstrates the U.S. and Norway's mutual commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Arctic region. (U.S. Army photo)

U.S. and Italian soldiers ascend a mountain during Steel Blizzard, a multinational mountain and arctic warfare training exercise, in Usseaux, Italy, Feb. 15, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. John Yountz)

U.S. Ambassador Kate Byrnes, the U.S. European Command civilian deputy and foreign policy adviser; U.S Air Force Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, the USEUCOM strategy, plans and policy director; and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, the USEUCOM strategy, plans and policy deputy director; attended a State Partnership Program conference held at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Feb. 2 2023. National Guard adjutants general were among the military leaders attending in support of the Department of Defense joint security cooperation program, managed by the National Guard Bureau and executed by USEUCOM, with National Guard units matched with participating countries within the USEUCOM area of responsibility. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the program, which facilitates cooperation across all aspects of international civil-military affairs, strengthening relationships and increasing interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexcia Givens)

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, U.S. European Command commander and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, visited the Swiss Armed Forces and held talks with Swiss Armed Forces Chief Lt. Gen. Süssli in Bern, Switzerland, Feb. 9, 2023. As part of a troop demonstration at the Thun Military Training Area, noncommissioned officers of Armored School 21 gave Cavoli an inside view of the Swiss Armed Forces’ basic practical training. The event included a demonstration of the armored infantry fighting vehicle 2000’s firing capabilities, and a combat exercise in urban terrain. (DDPS courtesy photo by Alex Kühni)

Members of the United States Agency for International Development’s Disaster Assistance Response Team unload cargo at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Feb. 8, 2023. The DART is assigned to lead the U.S. government humanitarian response following a series of earthquakes that struck central-southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, 2023. The DART includes urban search and rescue teams from the Fairfax and Los Angeles County Fire Departments and include 159 people, 12 rescue dogs and 170,000 pounds of specialized equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua T. Crossman)

U.S. Ambassador, Kate Byrnes, civilian deputy to the USEUCOM commander and Foreign Policy Advisor (left), moderates a panel on strengthening European security amidst global challenges with at the European Strategy Conference and Workshop (ESCW) in Ramstein, Germany, Jan. 30 — Feb. 3. Panelists included Brig. Gen. Jared Sembritzki, director of operations, German Army Headquarters; U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, director of strategy, engagement and programs, U.S. Africa Command; and, Rear Adm. Solveig Krey, chief of operations, Defense Staff Norway.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Celeste Wallander, delivers remarks on NATO, Europe and U.S. national defense strategy at U.S. European Command’s European Strategy Conference and Workshop (ESCW) in Ramstein, Germany, Jan. 30 — Feb. 3.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, USEUCOM’s director for strategy, plans and policy, delivers closing remarks at the European Strategy Conference and Workshop (ESCW) in Ramstein, Germany, Jan. 30 — Feb. 3.

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and U.S. European Command leaders met on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Mons, Belgium, for staff talks, reinforcing the strong collaboration and synchronization between the two organizations. (NATO photo by U.S. Navy MC2 Wesley Richardson)

Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, the U.S. European Command Plans, Policy, and Strategy and Capabilities deputy director, meets with Romanian Col. Emilian Chirea, interim J5 director, at the Romanian Ministry of National Defense in Bucharest, Romania, on Feb. 24, 2022.

Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes

Brig. Gen. Nikolay Rusev, the Graf Ignatievo Air Base commander, and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, the U.S. European Command plans, policy, strategy and capabilities directorate deputy director, meet during Vaughan's official visit to Bulgaria in June 2022.

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command, visited Georgia Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on Dec. 1, 2022, at the Government Administration in Tbilisi, Georgia. The meeting included discussions about U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership, military cooperation and commitment to security cooperation in Europe. (Courtesy photo by the Georgia Prime Minister's Press Office)

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, center right, commander of U.S. European Command, visited Georgia Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, center left, on Dec. 1, 2022, at the Government Administration in Tbilisi, Georgia. The meeting included discussions about U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership, military cooperation and commitment to security cooperation in Europe. (Courtesy photo by the Georgia Prime Minister's Press Office)

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command, visited Georgia Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on Dec. 1, 2022, at the Government Administration in Tbilisi, Georgia. The meeting included discussions about U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership, military cooperation and commitment to security cooperation in Europe. (Courtesy photo by the Georgia Prime Minister's Press Office)

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander, U.S. European Command, co-hosted the Northern Europe Chiefs of Defense Conference with Gen. Rajmund Andrzejczak, the Polish Armed Forces chief of the general staff. During the event, held Oct. 19-20, 2022, in Warsaw, Poland, military leaders from the U.S. and 12 European nations discussed regional security challenges, and they reaffirmed their continued commitment to deepening defense cooperation. The defense chiefs also discussed enhancing technological interoperability among NATO and non-NATO nations. (Courtesy photo by the Polish General Staff)

Military leaders from 12 European nations and the United States met in Warsaw, Poland, Oct. 19-20, for the Northern Europe Chiefs of Defense Conference. During the event, which was co-hosted by Gen. Rajmund Andrzejczak, the Polish Armed Forces chief of the general staff and U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander, U.S. European Command, the defense chiefs discussed regional security challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to increased cooperation and integration with Allies and partners. (Courtesy photo by the Polish General Staff)

Gen. Rajmund Andrzejczak, the Polish Armed Forces chief of the general staff and U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander, U.S. European Command, co-hosted the Northern Europe Chiefs of Defense Conference held in Warsaw, Poland, Oct. 19-20. During the event, military leaders from 12 European nations and the United States discussed regional security challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to increased cooperation and integration with Allies and partners. (Courtesy photo by the Polish General Staff)

The color guard executes 'order arms' during a change of command ceremony July 12, 2022, in Sembach, Germany. Brig. Gen. Maurice Barnett assumed the command of 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command from Maj. Gen. Greg Brady. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Yesenia Cadavid) 

Norwegian Royal Navy Rear Adm. Solveig Krey, Norwegian Defence Staff's chief of operations, and co-chair of the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable, shakes hands with her counterpart, Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, the U.S. European Command deputy director for security cooperation, policy, partnering and space. (USEUCOM photo by CPT Sarah Kramer)

Norwegian Royal Navy Rear Adm. Solveig Krey, Norwegian Defence Staff's chief of operations, and co-chair of the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable, shakes hands with her counterpart, Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, the U.S. European Command deputy director for security cooperation, policy, partnering and space. (USEUCOM photo by CPT Sarah Kramer)

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander, U.S. European Command, addresses the Adriatic Charter (A5) Chiefs of Defense Conference Sept. 22, 2022, in Budva, Montenegro. Chiefs of Defense or their representatives from the A5 Charter nations of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the U.S. were present at the event, as well as Chair of the Military Committee of NATO Adm. Rob Bauer, Royal Netherlands Navy. Montenegro's president, Milo Đukanović, delivered the keynote address for the event, which was hosted by Montenegro. Delegations from Kosovo and Slovenia also attended as observer nations.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), left, operates with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Aug. 27, 2022. The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Novalee Manzella)

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), front, receives ammunition from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Aug. 27, 2022. The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Novalee Manzella)

Two U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft assigned to the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, currently operating out of RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, fly over Tirana, Albania, Aug. 22, 2022. The flyover demonstrates United States commitment and assurance to NATO Allies and Partners located in southeastern Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordan Lazaro)

U.S. European Command Deputy Director for Partnership, Security Cooperation and Space Capability Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, right, attended the Georgian Ministry of Defense-hosted first executive-level review of progress on the newly initiated Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative (GDDEI). GDDEI is a bilateral US-Georgia security cooperation initiative designed to enable the continued modernization and development of the Georgian Ministry of Defense and Georgian Defense Forces in support of shared security interests. (Courtesy photo)

U.S. European Command Deputy Director for Partnership, Security Cooperation and Space Capability Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, front row, center, attended the Georgian Ministry of Defense-hosted first executive-level review of progress on the newly initiated Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative (GDDEI). GDDEI is a bilateral US-Georgia security cooperation initiative designed to enable the continued modernization and development of the Georgian Ministry of Defense and Georgian Defense Forces in support of shared security interests. GDDEI's purpose is to continue institutional reform in the defense sector, strengthen the capabilities and capacities required for effective deterrence and defense, and foster interoperability with NATO. (Courtesy photo)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is greeted by Latvian Minister of Defense Dr. Artis Pabriks upon his arrival to Lielvarde Air Base, Latvia, on Aug. 9, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S Air Force Staff Sgt. Julian W. Kemper)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III presents a coin to a U.S. Army Soldier while visiting Lielvarde Air Base, Latvia, on Aug. 9, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S Air Force Staff Sgt. Julian W. Kemper)

U.S. Army Soldiers with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division neatly stage M1 Abrams main battle tanks at a port in Alexandroupoli, Greece, March 21, 2022. The 3rd ABCT is the ninth armored rotational unit to deploy to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve under the command control of U.S. Army V Corps. The "Iron Brigade" will conduct bilateral, joint and multinational training events to build readiness, increase interoperability and enhance the bond between allied and partner militaries. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Austin Steinborn, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Maj. Gen. Adrian Spain is the Chief of Staff, Headquarters United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany.