Change of Command AFSouth Post , Bagnoli , Italy : Admiral Horacio Rivero , USN , Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Southern Europe ( AFSOUTH ) (left) , stands with Lt General John S Hardy , USAF , outgoing Commander of Allied Air Forces South Europe ( AIRSOUTH ) (centre) and Lt General Fred M Dean , USAF , incoming commander as orders are read at the change of command ceremony held at AFSOUTH POST , Bagnoli , Italy on 1 August 1968 . Allied Air Forces Southern Europe ( AIRSOUTH ) is NATO 's air command for Southern Europe . Commanded by Lt Gen Fred M Dean USAF , it has the daily peacetime operational mission of the air defence of Italy , Greece , and Turkey , including the Mediterranean sea , and part of the Black sea 1 August 1968