Supreme Allied Commander Vice Chairman Joint
Chiefs of staff
BDU - 1990's

General Joseph W. Ralston was born November 4, 1943 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The general entered the Air Force in 1965 through the ROTC program.

He was the Commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO, Mons, Belgium. As Commander in Chief of U.S. European Command, he was the senior U.S. military officer and commander of a unified combatant command with an area of responsibility that includes 89 nations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

He supported and advanced U.S. interests and policies throughout the command's area responsibility, and provided combat-ready forces to NATO's Allied Command Europe or other U.S. unified commands.

The U.S. European Command is responsible for the activities of all U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps forces operating within its area of responsibility. He was in overall command of NATO's military forces in Europe's Allied Command Europe, responsible for safeguarding an area extending from the northern tip of Norway to the eastern border of Turkey.

The general was also the overall commander of approximately 65,000 troops from 39 NATO and other nations participating in operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.

His career included operational command at squadron, wing, and numbers air force and major command, as well as various influential staff and management positions at every level of the Air Force. He has been closely involved with building the U.S. Airforce of the 21st Century, holding a variety of positions related to requirements and acquisition. Prior to assuming his current position, the general was the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He was a command pilot with more than 2500 flying hours, including 147 combat missions over Laos and North Vietnam.

His medals include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Distinguished Flying Cross (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Medal (19 Oak Leaf Clusters), and Air Force Commendation Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters).

He retired from the military March 1, 2003.