James A. Winnefeld Jr.

James A. Winnefeld Jr. is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this role, he was the nation's second-highest-ranking military officer, serving as a key advisor to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense. His final command was as the leader of both United States Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, responsible for the defense of the United States and Canada. Following his military service, he has become a prominent advocate for addressing the opioid epidemic and national security issues.

Early life and education

Born on February 14, 1956, in Coronado, California, he is the son of a United States Navy aviator. He spent much of his youth in Georgia, graduating from North Springs High School in Sandy Springs, Georgia. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering and commissioning as an ensign in 1978. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and completed executive education at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Naval career

Designated a naval aviator in 1980, he flew the F-14 Tomcat and later transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet. His operational tours included multiple deployments aboard the USS ''Dwight D. Eisenhower'' and combat missions during the Gulf War. He commanded Fighter Squadron 211, the USS ''Enterprise'' (CVN-65), and Carrier Strike Group 2. As a flag officer, he served as Director for Joint Force Development on the Joint Staff, Commander of the United States Sixth Fleet, and Deputy Commander of United States European Command. He was promoted to admiral in 2010 and served as the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2011 to 2015, participating in key deliberations during the War in Afghanistan and the military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. His final assignment was as Commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Post-military career and advocacy

Upon retirement in 2015, he joined the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School as a senior fellow. Following the tragic loss of his son to an opioid overdose in 2017, he and his wife, Mary, co-founded the S.A.F.E. Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic), a national nonprofit focused on combating the opioid crisis. He serves on the board of directors for Anheuser-Busch and Raytheon Technologies, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He frequently provides commentary on national security and public health issues for media outlets like CNN and The Washington Post.

Personal life

He is married to Mary Winnefeld. The couple had two sons, Jonathan and James. Their younger son, Jonathan, died in 2017. This personal tragedy profoundly shaped their post-military lives, driving their dedicated advocacy work in addiction prevention and treatment. He is an instrument-rated private pilot.

Awards and decorations

His personal military decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with three award stars, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Air Medal with strike/flight numeral. He has also been awarded various unit awards, service medals, and campaign medals for his service in operations such as Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom.

Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:United States Navy admirals Category:United States Naval Academy alumni Category:Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal