Adm. James Stavridis also served as the 15th commander of U.S. European Command from 2006 to 2009. | AP Photo Clinton vetting retired Adm. James Stavridis for VP

Hillary Clinton's campaign is vetting retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis, a four-star officer who served as NATO's 16th Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Stavridis, who currently serves as the dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, is being formally vetted, according to two sources familiar with the process.


In addition to his service to NATO from 2009 to 2013, Stavridis also served as the 15th commander of U.S. European Command from 2006 to 2009, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1976.

"Admiral Jim Stavridis is a person of high character and distinction. I have known him as both a military leader and now as Dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, I admire his drive, dedication, patriotism and extraordinary service to our country," said Nicholas Burns, a former ambassador to NATO.

The vetting was first reported by the New York Times Tuesday.

Stavridis has surfaced on Clinton's short-list one week after Donald Trump said he is exploring a running mate from outside the ranks of politicians, including from the military. Sources close to Trump said last week that Michael Flynn, the former Defense Intelligence Agency head and a retired three-star Army general, was one of two generals under consideration.

A senior Democrat close to the vetting process told POLITICO the Stavridis float might be a bit of political psy-ops intended in part to spur Trump into picking Flynn — whom the Clinton campaign views as a disastrous choice who would hurt the Republican ticket.

The Clinton campaign had no comment.

Annie Karni contributed to this report.