A Greek officer will lead the EUNavfor-Atalanta force in the area
(B2) Commodore Antonios Papaioannou will take command of the European force"EuNavfor Atalanta" to fight against maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia. Since April 2008, he has been director of the national operations center. He should command the European force of around ten boats and planes on the spot. He will work under the orders the head of the operation, the British Philip Jones, who will work from his HQ in Northwood (United Kingdom).The post of Force Commander should be assumed in turn by officers from other Member States (Spanish and Dutch are candidates).
Born in 1957, graduated from the naval academy in 1979, from the Greek war college and from the NATO defense college (in Rome), he was an officer on the destroyers Kanaris and Themistocles, then took command of the corvette AGO9, frigate Spetsai (2001-2003) and finally commanded the 2nd frigate squadron - HELLFRIGRON2 (2006-2008). He notably served in the Red Sea (during Operation Desert Shield) and in the Persian Gulf (Operation Enduring Freedom) aboard the Spetsai.
Papaioannou shouldn't have too many problems getting along, at least culturally, with the "rear-admiral" Philip Jones who controls the operation; he knows the British navy well, having been a defense attaché at the Greek embassy in London.
(NGV)
(Photo: Greek navy, the "Spetsai" where Papaioannou officiated)
