General George A. Joulwan (JAHL'win) became Supreme Allied commander Europe on 22 October 1993. He was also the Commander-in-Chief, United States European Command.
General Joulwan graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Pont in 1961 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Infantry. He received a Master of Arts degree in political science form Loyola University in Chicago. General Joulwan's military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Armor officer Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He was an ROTC instructor at Loyola University, a tactical officer in the Department of Tactics at the U.S. Military Academy, and Director of Political and Economical Studies at the Army War College.
He has held a variety of command and staff positions during two combat tours in Vietnam, two tours in Washington, D.C, and five tours in Europe.
In Vietnam, General Joulwan was a company commander and the operations officer in the 1 st Battalion, 26 th Infantry, 1 st Infantry Division. He also served as a brigade operations officer and deputy division operations officer of the 101 st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
In Washington assignment was Executive Officer to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff followed by an assignment as Director, Force Requirements, in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Department of the Army.
During his 17, years in Europe, General Joulwan commanded U.S. forces at every level in Germany to include platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander, brigade commander, division commander and corps commander.
In 1974 – 1975 he served as Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe. General Joulwan commanded the 3 rd Armored Division and V Corps from 1988 – 1990 during the historic period of the collapse and fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain.
General Joulwan was promoted to his present rank of General in November 1990 and served as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Southern Command (Panama) until October 1993.
Military awards and decorations which General Joulwan has received include:
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal (w/1 oak leaf cluster), the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Silver Star (w/1 oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit (w/1 oak leaf cluster), the Bronze Star (w/”V” device and 2 oak leaf cluster), the meritorious Service Medal (w/3 oak leaf cluster), the Air Medal (w/numeral 14), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (w/1 oak leaf cluster), the National Defense Service Medal (w/1 bronze star), the Republic of Vietnam Service medal (w/4 bronze stars), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (w/numeral 5), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (w/3 gold stars), the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (w/silver date bar). Unit citations include the following: The Army Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Army Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation with Bronze Palm.
General Joulwan is also authorized to wear the Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, the Presidential Service Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
General Joulwan has also been given awards by foreign governments and include the following: The Knight Commanders' Cross of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hessian Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany, the Legion of Honour in the Grade of Officer from the Republic of France, the Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa with Grade of Grand Officer from the Republic of Panama, the Honour of Merit from the Republic of Venezuela, the Legion of Merit of Mariscal Andres de Santa Cruz from the Republic of Bolivia, the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service from the Republic of El Salvador, the Order of Merit from the Republic of Honduras, and the Commanders' Cross with Star of the Order of Service to the Republic of Poland.