Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Adm. Jim Stavridis, presided over the ceremony for NATO's top Enlisted spot. In his speech Stavridis praised CSM Michael Bartelle for leadership, hard work and vision for creating NATO's Year of the NCO in 2008 as a few of the many accomplished during his tenure as NATO's top enlisted personnel. The SACEUR extended a warm welcome aboard to Command Sgt. Maj. Michael M. Balch whom he has worked with previously. Balch becomes the third senior non-commissioned officer of the Allied Command Operations in the history of NATO.