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.
As the Supreme Allied Commander, he conducted over 20 operations in the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East. 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.
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.
Military career
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. Later in his career, General Joulwan earned a master's degree from Loyola University (Chicago) in political science.
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
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.
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. +Highlights of General George Joulwan's military assignments Year Assignment Emblem Location 1963 Commander in the Infantry: First Battalion, 30th Infantry, 3rd Division Europe 1964 Battalion Operations Officer (S-3): First Battalion, 26th Infantry of the First Division Vietnam 1968 Assistant professor of Military Sciences: Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL 1971 101st Airborne Division Vietnam 1972 Department of Tactics, United States Military Academy at West Point West Point, NY 1973 Aide-de-Camp to the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army Washington 1973 Special Assistant to the President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon Washington 1975 Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Europe 1975 Commander of the First Battalion of the 26th Infantry Germany 1977 Student (and later staff and faculty) at United States Army War College Pennsylvania 1979 Commanded the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division Germany 1981 Division Chief of Staff, 3rd Infantry Division Germany 1982 Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Arlington, VA 1983 Director of Force Development, Department of the Army Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 1985 Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army Germany 1988 Commander of the 3rd Armored Division Germany 1989 Commanding General of the V Corps Germany 1990 Commander-in-Chief, United States Southern Command Panama, El Salvador and other locations 1993–1997 Commander-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.
His other post-military positions have included:
President of Team One, a consulting firm Senior Advisor of Global USA Inc, a government relations and consulting firm Board member for General Dynamics Corporation Professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point Member of the board of trustees for the United States Military Academy 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.
Citizenship and philanthropy General Joulwan has also served the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as the Chair Emeritus of the Gourmet Gala Committee. A public park in Pottsville, Pennsylvania was named in his honor.
Personal life General Joulwan had a twin brother, James Joseph Joulwan, who died in 2013. General Joulwan is of Lebanese Maronite heritage. 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 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 Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)Army Distinguished Service MedalSilver Star (with oak leaf cluster)Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster)Bronze Star (with valor device and two oak leaf clusters)Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)Air Medal (with award numeral 14)Joint Service Commendation MedalArmy Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster)Valorous Unit AwardNational Defense Service MedalVietnam Service Medal (with four bronze service star)Army Service RibbonOverseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 5)Legion of Honor (Bolivia)Military Order of the White Lion, Second Class (Czech Republic)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 HungaryGrand Officer of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa (Panama)Commander Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of PolandRomanian Emblem of HonorHonour of Merit (Venezuela)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)
References
External links
Biography at United States Military Academy George Joulwan historical news archives at The New York Times at Forbes The General George Joulwan East Side Park in Pottsville, Pennsylvania "The New NATO: Building Stability, Democracy, and Peace Through Cooperation" article by General Joulwan at the Center for Strategic Decision Research