General George Joulwan
George Joulwan
Born (1939-11-16) November 16, 1939
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank General
Commands held
Battles/warsVietnam War
Awards
General George Joulwan visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina during his tenure as Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

George Alfred Joulwan (born November 16, 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]

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
December 23, 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, August 8, 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 May 4, 1973 – September 21, 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]
Year Assignment Emblem Location
1963Commander in the Infantry: First Battalion, 30th Infantry, 3rd Division
Europe
1964Battalion Operations Officer (S-3): First Battalion, 26th Infantry of the First Division
Vietnam
1968Assistant professor of Military Sciences: Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL
1971101st Airborne Division
Vietnam
1972Department of Tactics, United States Military Academy at West Point
West Point, NY
1973Aide-de-Camp to the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Washington
1973Special Assistant to the President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon
Washington
1975Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, EuropeEurope
1975Commander of the First Battalion of the 26th Infantry
Various
1977Student (and later staff and faculty) at United States Army War College
Pennsylvania
1979Commanded the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division
Germany
1981Division Chief of Staff, 3rd Infantry Division
Various
1982Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Arlington, VA
1983Director of Force Development, Department of the Army
Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
1985Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army
Germany
1988Commander of the 3rd Armored Division
Various
1989Commanding General of the V Corps
Various
1990Commander-in-Chief, United States Southern Command
Panama, El Salvador and other locations
1993–1997Commander-in-Chief, United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander
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 September 11, 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 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. His eldest granddaughter, Casey Sharpe, carries his legacy on by raising awareness of all of George’s accomplishments and certifying herself as one of Gen Z’s newest and proudest military granddaughters.

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantry Badge
Parachutist Badge
Ranger Tab
Presidential Service Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
SACEUR Badge
26th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster)
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster)
V
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star (with valor device and two oak leaf clusters)
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)
Air Medal (with award numeral 14)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
Valorous Unit Award
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Vietnam Service Medal (with four bronze service star)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 5)
Legion of Honor (Bolivia)
Military Order of the White Lion, Second Class (Czech Republic)[12]
Gold Medal for Distinguished Service (El Salvador)
Légion d'Honneur, Officier (France)
Knight Commanders' Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Germany)
Hesse Order of Merit (Germany)
Cross of Merit of the Armed Forces (Honduras)
Commander Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary[13]
Grand Officer of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa (Panama)
Commander Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Romanian Emblem of Honor
Honour of Merit (Venezuela)
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three gold stars (Vietnam)
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (Vietnam)
Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation (Vietnam)
Vietnam Campaign Medal with "1960–"-device (Vietnam)

[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Dyer, Thomas B. (May 14, 2002). "2002 Distinguished Graduate Award: GEN George A. Joulwan '61". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Text: Andrew Card on 'Fox News Sunday'". The Washington Post. September 30, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  3. "Statement on the Retirement of General George A. Joulwan, USA". The American Presidency Project. Gerhard Peters – The American Presidency Project. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "People: Emergent BioSolutions Inc (EBS.N)". Reuters. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  5. Haig, Alexander (September 1, 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. July 4, 2019. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 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 June 20, 2005. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  8. "2014 Gourmet Gala Committee". St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Memphis, Tennessee. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  9. "Governor Rendell Makes Investment In Pottsville; Delivers On Promise to Redevelop Downtown". Free Online Library. Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania: Farlex, Inc. October 14, 2005. Retrieved June 3, 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 July 14, 2014.
  13. "NATO'S EUROPEAN COMMANDER DECORATED IN HUNGARY". Friends & Partners; Linking US-Russia Across the Internet. Natasha Bulashova, Greg Cole. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
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