GENERAL RALPH E. EBERHART

General Ralph E. EberhartGeneral Ralph E. "Ed" Eberhart is commander in chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command; commander in chief, United States Space Command; commander, Air Force Space Command; and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations, Headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
The general entered the Air Force in 1968 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. His staff experience includes serving as executive officer to the Air Force chief of staff at Headquarters U.S. Air Force; deputy chief of staff for inspection, safety and security, Headquarters Tactical Air Command; director for programs and evaluation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; director of force structure, resources and assessment, the Joint Staff; and deputy chief of staff for plans and operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. Prior to assuming his current position, the general served as Commander, Air Combat Command with headquarters at Langley AFB, Va.

The general has commanded a flight, squadron, wing, numbered air force and sub-unified command. While commander of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing during Operation Desert Shield, the unit established the theater's initial air-to-ground combat capability from a forward operating location. While serving as the commander of U.S. Forces, Japan, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Emperor of Japan. He is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. A command pilot, he has logged more than 4,000 hours in fighter and trainer aircraft, including 300 combat missions as a forward air controller in Vietnam.

EDUCATION:
1968 Bachelor of science degree in political science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1973 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1974 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1977 Master's degree in political science, Troy State University, Ala.
1987 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS:
1. August 1968 - August 1969, student, undergraduate pilot training, 615th Student Squadron, Air Training Command, Craig Air Force Base, Ala.
2. February 1970 - December 1970, forward air controller, 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam
3. December 1970 - June 1974, T-38 instructor pilot, assistant flight commander, flight commander and headquarters squadron commander, 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
4. June 1974 - June 1975, resource manager, Air Staff Training Program, Special Category Management Section, Rated Career Management Branch, Headquarters Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
5. December 1975 - February 1977, F-4E flight commander and instructor pilot, 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bitburg Air Base, West Germany
6. February 1977 - December 1978, F-4E instructor pilot, standardization and evaluation flight examiner, and assistant chief, standardization and evaluation, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn Air Base, West Germany
7. January 1979 - July 1980, action officer, readiness initiative group, Directorate of Operations, then chief, executive committee, Air Force Budget Issues Team, Directorate of Plans, Congressional and External Affairs Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. July 1980 - June 1982, aide to the commander in chief, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany
9. September 1982 - May 1984, commander, 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron, then assistant deputy commander for operations, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn Air Base, West Germany
10. May 1984 - July 1986, executive officer to the Air Force chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. July 1986 - July 1987, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. July 1987 - October 1990, vice commander, then commander, 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
13. October 1990 - February 1991, deputy chief of staff for inspection, safety and security, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
14. February 1991 - February 1994, director, Directorate of Programs and Evaluation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. February 1994 - June 1995, director, force structure, resources and assessment (J-8), the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
16. June 1995 - June 1996, deputy chief of staff for plans and operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. June 1996 - June 1997, commander, U.S. Forces, Japan, and commander, 5th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan
18. July 1997 - June 1999, vice chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
19. June 1999 - February 2000, commander, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, VA
20. February 2000 - Present, commander in chief, NORAD, USSPACECOM, and commander, Air Force Space Command

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,000 hours
Aircraft flown: O-2, T-38, T-39, F-4E, F-16, RF-4C, F-15 and C-21

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two service stars
Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
Humanitarian Service Medal with service star
Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short
Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with seven oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Japan

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant Jun 5, 1968
First Lieutenant Dec 5, 1969
Captain Jun 5, 1971
Major Sep 1, 1979
Lieutenant Colonel Nov 1, 1981
Colonel Nov 1, 1984
Brigadier General Mar 1, 1991
Major General Jul 1, 1993
Lieutenant General Jul 1, 1995
General Aug 1, 1997

(Current as of February 2000)