United States Army General. He served as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the administration of President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997. Born into a military family, he was the son of an army officer and the grandson of a czarist general. He grew up in Poland during the German occupation and immigrated with his family to Peoria, Illinois in 1952. Shalikashvili, who spoke fluent Polish, German and Russian, learned English supposedly from watching John Wayne films. He attended Bradley University, where he studied engineering while joining the Air Force Reserve ROTC and in 1958, he attained US citizenship. Achieving the rank of four-star general, after more than 30-years of distinguished service including periods in Vietnam, South Korea and Italy, he was appointed NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Europe (1992 to 1993) and in 1993 became the first foreign-born chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his tenure, military operations were conducted in Bosnia, and the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy was introduced to address the issue of gays in the military. In 2004, he suffered a debilitating stroke.
United States Army General. He served as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the administration of President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997. Born into a military family, he was the son of an army officer and the grandson of a czarist general. He grew up in Poland during the German occupation and immigrated with his family to Peoria, Illinois in 1952. Shalikashvili, who spoke fluent Polish, German and Russian, learned English supposedly from watching John Wayne films. He attended Bradley University, where he studied engineering while joining the Air Force Reserve ROTC and in 1958, he attained US citizenship. Achieving the rank of four-star general, after more than 30-years of distinguished service including periods in Vietnam, South Korea and Italy, he was appointed NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Europe (1992 to 1993) and in 1993 became the first foreign-born chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his tenure, military operations were conducted in Bosnia, and the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy was introduced to address the issue of gays in the military. In 2004, he suffered a debilitating stroke.
Bio by: C.S.
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