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John Shalikashvili

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John Shalikashvili
NameJohn Shalikashvili
CaptionOfficial portrait, 1993
Birth date27 June 1936
Birth placeWarsaw, Second Polish Republic
Death date23 July 2011
Death placeMadigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States
Serviceyears1958–1997
RankGeneral
CommandsSupreme Allied Commander Europe, United States European Command, United States Army Europe, 9th Infantry Division
BattlesVietnam War, Gulf War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (2), Army Distinguished Service Medal (2), Legion of Merit (3), Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart
LaterworkSpecial envoy for President Barack Obama

John Shalikashvili was a senior officer in the United States Army who served as the 13th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997. Born in Europe to Georgian émigré parents, he rose through the ranks to become the first foreign-born officer to hold the nation's highest military office. His tenure was marked by overseeing the post-Cold War drawdown of U.S. forces and directing major military operations in Haiti, Bosnia, and the Persian Gulf.

Early life and education

He was born in Warsaw to a Georgian noble family; his father served in the German Wehrmacht during World War II. After the war, his family fled to Germany before immigrating to the United States in 1952. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1958 and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He earned a bachelor's degree from Bradley University in Peoria and a master's degree in international affairs from George Washington University.

Military career

His early assignments included service as an artillery officer with the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. He served two tours in the Vietnam War, first as a senior district advisor and later as a battalion executive officer in the 23rd Infantry Division, where he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart. He held key staff positions at the Pentagon and with U.S. Army Europe before commanding the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, he succeeded General Colin Powell. His term involved managing the complex military integration of former Warsaw Pact nations into NATO and executing Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti. He also oversaw the implementation of the Dayton Agreement in Bosnia, directing the deployment of the IFOR and SFOR peacekeeping missions. During the Gulf War aftermath, he managed operations like Operation Vigilant Warrior to counter Iraqi provocations.

Later life and death

After retiring from the Army in 1997, he served on the boards of several corporations, including United Technologies and The Boeing Company. He was a visiting professor at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University. In 2004, he publicly reversed his opposition to allowing LGBT individuals to serve openly in the military. In 2010, he served as a special envoy for President Barack Obama regarding the ratification of the New START treaty with Russia. He died at Madigan Army Medical Center in 2011 following a stroke.

Awards and honors

His military decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. He received numerous foreign awards, including the French Legion of Honor and the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana from Estonia. In 1996, he was presented with the Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy.

Legacy

He is remembered as a skilled diplomat-soldier who helped guide the U.S. military through a transformative period after the Cold War. His leadership of NATO expansion and peace enforcement in the Balkans were significant achievements. His later advocacy for repealing the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy was influential in the national debate. The John M. Shalikashvili Professorship in International Studies was established in his honor at his alma mater, Bradley University.

Category:1993 births Category:2011 deaths Category:United States Army generals Category:Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Category:American military personnel of the Vietnam War Category:American people of Georgian descent