George Joulwan

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General George Joulwan
George A. Joulwan, 1997.jpeg
George Joulwan
Born (1939-11-16) 16 November 1939 (age 85)
Pottsville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch United States Department of the Army Seal.svg United States Army
Rank US-O10 insignia.svg General
Commands
Battles / wars Vietnam War
Awards
General George Joulwan and a Russian colonel general Alexander Lentsov visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina with Russian soldiers during his tenure as Supreme Allied Commander Europe. General George A. Joulwan Operation Endeavor.jpg
General George Joulwan and a Russian colonel general Alexander Lentsov visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina with Russian soldiers during his tenure as Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

George Alfred Joulwan (born 16 November 1939, Pottsville, Pennsylvania) is a retired United States Army general who served for 36 years. He finished his military career as the Commander-in-Chief of the United States European Command and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander (SACEUR) in 1997. [1]

Contents

As the Supreme Allied Commander, he conducted over 20 operations in the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East. [1] When the United States sent forces into Bosnia in the 1990s, General Joulwan played the leading role in troop deployment, earning praise by President Clinton upon Joulwan's retirement. [2]

As SACEUR, General Joulwan created a strategic policy for the United States military engagement in Africa, which was the first time in U.S. history that such a policy had been crafted. [1]

Military career

His efforts have built a foundation for a Europe that is safe, secure, and democratic well into the 21st century. . . . General Joulwan's leadership and wise counsel will truly be missed in the senior decision-making ranks of our national security structure.

President William J. Clinton's statement
on the retirement of General Joulwan
23 December 1996 [3]

West Point

George Joulwan earned his college degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point, he played football and basketball, earning two varsity letters as a football lineman. [1] Later in his career, General Joulwan earned a master's degree from Loyola University (Chicago) in political science. [4]

Vietnam

General Joulwan served from June 1966 to November 1967 and from June 1971 to January 1972 in Vietnam. He attended the Army War College, and served on the Staff and Faculty until 1979. He commanded the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), from June 1979 to September 1981, when he became Chief of Staff, 3rd Infantry Division.

White House

Major George Joulwan (Seated, far left) while serving as special assistant to The White House Chief of Staff General Alexander Haig at Haig's office in the White House with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, 8 August 1974 White House staff contemplate after Richard Nixon resignation.jpg
Major George Joulwan (Seated, far left) while serving as special assistant to The White House Chief of Staff General Alexander Haig at Haig's office in the White House with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, 8 August 1974

Joulwan served as special assistant to General Alexander Haig while still a Major within the U.S. Army, when Haig was serving as White House Chief of Staff from 4 May 1973 to 21 September 1974. [5]

National leadership

He served in various functions at the Pentagon from 1982 until June 1986, when he became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, United States Army Europe and U.S. Seventh Army, Germany.

In March 1988 he was given command of the 3rd Armored Division and in 1989 he became Commanding General, U.S. V Corps.

From November 1990 until October 1993 he was Commander in Chief of United States Southern Command.

International leadership

He served as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) from 1993 to 1997, when he was succeeded by General Wesley Clark. He retired from command after serving in NATO. [6]

Highlights of General George Joulwan's military assignments [1] [7]
YearAssignmentEmblemLocation
1963Commander in the Infantry: First Battalion, 30th Infantry, 3rd Division
3rd Infantry Division SSI (1918-2015).svg
Europe
1964Battalion Operations Officer (S-3): First Battalion, 26th Infantry of the First Division
26th INF COA.png
Vietnam
1968Assistant professor of Military Sciences: Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
1971 101st Airborne Division
US 101st Airborne Division patch.svg
Vietnam
1972Department of Tactics, United States Military Academy at West Point
U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
West Point, NY
1973Aide-de-Camp to the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Flag of the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.svg
Washington
1973Special Assistant to the President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon
Seal of the President of the United States.svg
Washington
1975Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Europe
1975Commander of the First Battalion of the 26th Infantry
26th INF COA.png
Various
1977Student (and later staff and faculty) at United States Army War College
Seal of the United States Army War College.png
Pennsylvania
1979Commanded the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division
3rd Infantry Division SSI (1918-2015).svg
Germany
1981 Division Chief of Staff, 3rd Infantry Division
3rd Infantry Division SSI (1918-2015).svg
Various
1982 Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg
Arlington, VA
1983 Director of Force Development, Department of the Army
United States Department of the Army Seal.svg
Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
1985Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army
USAREUR Insignia.svg
Germany
1988Commander of the 3rd Armored Division
3rd US Armored Division SSI.svg
Germany
1989Commanding General of the V Corps
V Corps.svg
Germany
1990Commander-in-Chief, United States Southern Command
Seal of the United States Southern Command.svg
Panama, El Salvador and other locations
1993–1997Commander-in-Chief, United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander
USEUCOM.svg
Europe, worldwide

Post-military career

General Joulwan sits on the board of directors of Emergent BioSolutions, a biotechnology company, after a referral to the post by Allen Shofe, an executive at Emergent. [4]

His other post-military positions have included: [4]

He has also served as a military analyst for Fox News Channel. Notably, he appeared on Fox News Sunday a few weeks after 11 September 2001, with White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Senate Armed Forces chairman Carl Levin to discuss his experience in war planning and the American military's planning with regards to Afghanistan. [2]

Citizenship and philanthropy

General Joulwan has also served the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as the Chair Emeritus of the Gourmet Gala Committee. [8] A public park in Pottsville, Pennsylvania was named in his honor. [9]

Personal life

General Joulwan had a twin brother, James Joseph Joulwan, who died in 2013. General Joulwan is of Lebanese Maronite heritage. [10] [11] He is married and has eight grandchildren. George comes from a distinguished military family. His father fought with the US Navy in WWI, and his cousin fought with the US Army in WWII and was captured twice.

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantry Badge.svg Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantry Badge.svg Expert Infantry Badge
United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg Parachutist Badge
Ranger Tab.svg Ranger Tab
US - Presidential Service Badge.png Presidential Service Badge
United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png Army Staff Identification Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Coat of arms of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.svg SACEUR Badge
26th INF DUI.svg 26th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Army Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Silver Star ribbon.svg
Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster)
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster)
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Bronze Star (with valor device and two oak leaf clusters)
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)
Air Medal ribbon.svg Award numeral 1.png Award numeral 4.png Air Medal (with award numeral 14)
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Army Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg Valorous Unit Award
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Vietnam Service Medal (with four bronze service star)
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Award numeral 5.png Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 5)
BOL Legion of Honor.png Legion of Honor (Bolivia)
TCH CS Vojensky Rad Bileho Lva 2nd (1945) BAR.svg Military Order of the White Lion, Second Class (Czech Republic) [12]
El Salvador Gold Medal for Distinguished Service Ribbon.png Gold Medal for Distinguished Service (El Salvador)
Legion Honneur Officier ribbon.svg Légion d'Honneur, Officier (France)
GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 5 GrVK Stern.svg Knight Commanders' Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Germany)
DE-HE Der Hessische Verdienstorden BAR.png Hesse Order of Merit (Germany)
HND Cruz de las Fuerzas Armadas.png Cross of Merit of the Armed Forces (Honduras)
HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (military) 2class BAR.svg Commander Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary [13]
PAN Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa - Grand Officer BAR.png Grand Officer of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa (Panama)
POL Order Zaslugi RP kl2 BAR.svg Commander Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Romanian Honor Emblem.png Romanian Emblem of Honor
Noribbon.svg Honour of Merit (Venezuela)
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three gold stars (Vietnam)
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (Vietnam)
Civil Action Unit Citation.png Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation (Vietnam)
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal with "1960–"-device (Vietnam)

[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Dyer, Thomas B. (14 May 2002). "2002 Distinguished Graduate Award: GEN George A. Joulwan '61". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Text: Andrew Card on 'Fox News Sunday'". The Washington Post. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  3. "Statement on the Retirement of General George A. Joulwan, USA". The American Presidency Project. Gerhard Peters – The American Presidency Project. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "People: Emergent BioSolutions Inc (EBS.N)". Reuters. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  5. Haig, Alexander (1 September 1992). Inner Circles: How America Changed the World : A Memoir. Grand Central Publisher.
  6. "Arab-Americans in the United States Military". Arab-American Business and Professional Association. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Resume of Service Career of George Alfred Joulwan, General". BosniaLINK. Defense Technical Information Center, U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 20 June 2005. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  8. "2014 Gourmet Gala Committee". St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Memphis, Tennessee. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  9. "Governor Rendell Makes Investment In Pottsville; Delivers On Promise to Redevelop Downtown". Free Online Library. Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania: Farlex, Inc. 14 October 2005. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  10. "Military Hall of Honor: George Alfred Joulwan, General, U.S. Army". Militaryhallofhonor.
  11. "Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander's Journey To His Ancestors' Lebanon". Washington Report.
  12. "Order of the White Lion". old.hrad.cz/index_uk.html. President of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  13. "NATO'S EUROPEAN COMMANDER DECORATED IN HUNGARY". Friends & Partners; Linking US-Russia Across the Internet. Natasha Bulashova, Greg Cole. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
Military offices
Preceded by United States Southern Command
1991—1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by Supreme Allied Commander Europe
1993—1997
Succeeded by