General Philip Breedlove

General Philip Breedlove is a retired United States Air Force officer who served as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from 2013 to 2016. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Breedlove's career spanned over three decades, with notable assignments including Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, United States European Command, and United States Air Forces in Europe. He worked closely with General Martin Dempsey, Admiral James Stavridis, and General Curtis Scaparrotti.

● Early Life and Education

General Philip Breedlove was born on January 21, 1955, in Atlanta, Georgia, to a family with a strong United States military background. He attended Forest Park High School in Forest Park, Georgia, before enrolling in Georgia Tech, where he earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force through the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps. During his time at Georgia Tech, Breedlove was influenced by notable figures such as Jimmy Carter, Sam Nunn, and Newt Gingrich. He later attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, where he studied alongside General Norton Schwartz, General Mark Welsh, and General Herbert Carlisle.

● Military Career

Breedlove's military career began in the United States Air Force, where he served as a Fighter Pilot and flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-15 Eagle. He was assigned to various units, including the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, the 405th Tactical Training Wing at Luke Air Force Base, and the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base. Breedlove participated in several notable operations, including Operation Desert Storm, where he worked with General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he collaborated with General Tommy Franks, General Richard Myers, and General Peter Pace. He also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters Air Force, working closely with General John Jumper, General Michael Moseley, and General Norton Schwartz.

● Commands and Operations

As a senior officer, Breedlove commanded several units, including the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, and the 3rd Air Force at Ramstein Air Base. He also served as the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, working alongside General Norton Schwartz, General Mark Welsh, and General Herbert Carlisle. Breedlove played a key role in several operations, including Operation Odyssey Dawn, where he worked with Admiral James Stavridis, Operation Unified Protector, and Operation Atlantic Resolve, where he collaborated with General Martin Dempsey, General Curtis Scaparrotti, and General Ben Hodges. He also worked closely with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton.

● Awards and Decorations

Throughout his career, Breedlove received numerous awards and decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal (United States), the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States). He was also awarded the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, the French Legion of Honour, and the German Federal Cross of Merit. Breedlove's awards and decorations reflect his distinguished service and contributions to the United States Air Force and NATO, where he worked with notable figures such as General Wesley Clark, General Joseph Ralston, and General James Jones.

● Later Life and Retirement

After retiring from the United States Air Force in 2016, Breedlove went on to serve as a Distinguished Professor at Georgia Tech, where he taught courses on National Security and International Relations. He also serves on the board of directors for several organizations, including the Atlantic Council, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the National Defense Industrial Association. Breedlove continues to be involved in NATO and European Union affairs, working closely with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. He has also written articles and op-eds for various publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Foreign Affairs (magazine), where he has discussed topics such as Russia-Ukraine conflict, Syrian Civil War, and Counter-terrorism.