Rear Adm. Brad Rosen, left, took command of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central July 17, 2025 in Naples, Italy, relieving Rear Adm. Brad Collins, who will next command Navy Region Hawaii at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (U.S. Navy)
NAPLES, Italy — A rear admiral who once oversaw the Navy’s largest stateside base now commands the service’s most expansive region worldwide, the Navy announced this week.
Rear Adm. Brad Rosen assumed command of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central from Rear Adm. Brad Collins on Thursday at Naval Support Activity Naples, the Navy said in a statement.
Rosen now oversees logistics and support for service members, their families and the fleet across nine installations in seven countries spanning three combatant commands, according to the statement.
Those bases include NSA Naples, Naval Air Station Sigonella on the Italian island of Sicily, Naval Station Rota in Spain, Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete, Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Naval Support Facility Deveselu in Romania, Naval Support Facility Redzikowo in Poland and Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.
EURAFCENT oversees installation operations and management including air and port functions, safety and readiness programs, family support and readiness, legal and religious services, and housing and lodging, among other responsibilities and services.
In taking command, Rosen said he was looking forward to maintaining momentum gained under Collins’ command and the opportunity to continue the standard of excellence EURAFCENT has established.
That forward energy includes several Collins-led initiatives such as expanding regional ashore facilities and quality of life programs. Collins also oversaw installation support for non-combatant evacuations from Sudan and the U.S. withdrawal from Niger, and disaster relief support during wildfires in Greece and following earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the Navy said.
“I strongly believe that our shore units are operational units. They are the foundation from which the Navy generates readiness and capability,” Collins said in the release. “We’ve seen that time and time again when called upon in our area of responsibility.”
His next assignment is as commander of Navy Region Hawaii at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
A native of Randolph, New Jersey, Rosen was designated a naval flight officer after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995. He has served aboard the now-decommissioned aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy as a catapult and arresting officer and as commander of Patrol Squadron 16, or VP-16. He also commanded Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
His most recent assignment was as commander of Navy Region Southwest.
