James G. Stavridis

James G. Stavridis
Birth name	James George Stavridis
Nickname(s)	Zorba[1]
Born	(1955-02-15) February 15, 1955 West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1976–2013
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Supreme Allied Commander Europe U.S. European Command U.S. Southern Command
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit

James George Stavridis (born February 15, 1955)^[2] is a retired United States Navy admiral and the current dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, a graduate school for international affairs.^[3] Stravidis serves as the chief international diplomacy and national security analyst for NBC News in New York.^[4] He is also chairman of the board of the U.S. Naval Institute ^[5][6] and a Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.^[7]

Stavridis graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1976. While in the Navy, Stavridis served as the commander, U.S. Southern Command (2006 to 2009) and commander, U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (2009 to 2013).^[8][9] the first Navy officer to have held these positions. Stavridis earned a Ph.D and Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 1984, where he won the Gullion Prize.

Stavridis retired from the Navy in 2013 after thirty-seven years of service and became dean of The Fletcher School in the summer 2013. His book The Accidental Admiral, describing his time in the Navy, was published in October 2014. His book "The Leader's Bookshelf," published in 2017, describing the top 50 books that inspire better leadership was a #1 best seller in Amazon's "Literary Bibliography and Indexes" category.^[10] A second book published in 2017 is called "Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World's Oceans, published by Penguin Press. Shortly after publication, "Sea Power" was Amazon.com's number one bestseller in the national security and naval/military history categories^[11]. It opened at #9 on the Washington Post non-fiction bestseller list.^[12] He is an associate fellow of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.^[13]

He was considered as a potential vice-presidential running mate by the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016 and as a possible U.S. Secretary of State by President-elect Donald Trump in the fall of 2016.^[14][15]

Early life and family

Stavridis was born in West Palm Beach, Florida,^[16] son of Shirley Anne (Schaffer) and Paul George Stavridis.^[17][18][19] He is married to Laura Hall, author of Navy Spouses Guide. His paternal grandparents were Asia Minor Greeks, born and raised in Western Anatolia, who emigrated to the United States.^[20] His mother's family was Pennsylvania Dutch (German).^[21]

In his 2008 book, Destroyer Captain: Lessons of a First Command, Stavridis wrote:

In the early 1920's, my grandfather, a short, stocky Greek schoolteacher named Dimitrios Stavridis, was expelled from Turkey as part of 'ethnic cleansing' (read pogrom) directed against Greeks living in the remains of the Ottoman Empire. He barely escaped with his life in a small boat crossing the Aegean Sea to Athens and thence to Ellis Island. His brother was not so lucky and was killed by the Turks as part of the violence directed at the Greek minority.

A NATO exercise off the coast of modern Turkey was the "most amazing historical irony [he] could imagine," and prompted Stavridis to write of his grandfather: "His grandson, who speaks barely a few words of Greek, returns in command of a billion-dollar destroyer to the very city—Smyrna, now called İzmir—from which he sailed in a refugee craft all those years ago."^[22]

Naval career

ADM James G. Stavridis, former Commander, EUCOM, and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Stavridis is a 1976 distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He is a career surface warfare officer and served at sea in aircraft carriers, cruisers, and destroyers. After serving with distinction as Operations Officer on the newly commissioned USS Valley Forge, Stavridis commanded destroyer USS Barry from 1993 to 1995, completing deployments to Haiti, Bosnia, and the Persian Gulf. Barry won the Battenberg Cup as the top ship in the Atlantic Fleet under his command. In 1998, he commanded Destroyer Squadron 21 and deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1998, winning the Navy League's John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership.

From 2002 to 2004, Stavridis commanded Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, conducting combat operations in the Persian Gulf in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Afterwards, as Vice Admiral, Stavridis served as senior military assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense. On October 19, 2006, he became the first Navy officer to command the United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida. In July 2009, he became Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).^[23] He retired as SACEUR in 2013.

Ashore, Stavridis served as a strategic and long range planner on the staffs of the Chief of Naval Operations and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. At the start of the "Global War on Terror", he was selected as the director of the Navy Operations Group, Deep Blue, USA. He has also served as the executive assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and the senior military assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense.

Stavridis has long advocated the use of "smart power," which he defines as the balance of hard and soft power taken together. In numerous articles^[24] and speeches, he has advocated creating security in the 21st century by building bridges, not walls. Stavridis has stressed the need to connect international, inter-agency, and public-private actors to build security, lining all of them with effective strategic communications. His message was articulated in his book "Partnership for the Americas", which was published by the NDU Press and was based on his time as Commander of the U.S. Southern Command from 2006-2009. The book was summarized in his 2012 Ted Global talk in Scotland, which has been viewed more than 700,000 times online.

Based on an anonymous complaint, in early 2011 the DOD Inspector General began investigating allegations that ADM Stavridis “engaged in misconduct relating to official and unofficial travel and other matters.” He was subsequently the subject of a May 3, 2012, report by the Inspector General of the Department of Defense^[25] and was later absolved of wrongdoing by the Secretary of the Navy on September 11, 2012. In a Memorandum for the Record,^[26] Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus wrote that Stavridis: "has consistently demonstrated himself to be a model naval officer and a devoted public servant whose motivation is to do that which is necessary and appropriate to advance the interests of the United States." Mabus concluded that "I have determined that ADM Stavridis never attempted to use his public office for private gain nor did he commit personal misconduct."^[27]

Stavridis earned a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy in 1983, and a PhD in International Relations in 1984, from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he won the Gullion Prize as outstanding student. Stavridis is also 1992 distinguished graduate of the United States National War College.

Dean of the Fletcher School

Stavridis was appointed dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University on July 1, 2013. He frequently publishes his thoughts, opinions and analyses in myriad publications, including Foreign Policy, Huffington World Post, TIME Magazine (where he is a monthly columnist), and the United States Naval Institute's magazine, Proceedings.

As dean, Stavridis has initiated a strategic planning process, invited several high level speakers to the campus, and is focusing thematically on the Arctic, the role of women in international relations, synthetic biology and its impact on foreign affairs, cyber, and the role of online media and social networks in public diplomacy.^[28]

Media and public speaking

Admiral Stavridis in the remote studio at The Fletcher School

Since leaving active duty, Stavridis has frequently appeared on major broadcast and cable television networks to comment on national security and foreign policy matters. He often commented on CNN,^[29] Fox News,^[30] BBC^[31] and Bloomberg,^[32] and is a frequent op-ed contributor in Foreign Policy^[33][34] and the Nikkei Asian Review.^[35]

Tufts University had a remote television studio installed^[36] on the campus of The Fletcher School so that Stavridis and other faculty and administrators could easily make themselves available to the international media. In August 2016 NBC News named Stavridis as their "chief international security and diplomacy analyst.^[37]" Also in August 2016, according to Stavridis' official Twitter account,^[38] he began a monthly column for Time.com^[39]. The first column was about a "grand bargain" with Russia.^[40] Stavridis has also been a public speaker – among his many appearances are multiple appearances at the World Economic Forum^[41] in Davos, Switzerland, the Munich Security Conference ^[42] in 2013, and lectures at Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, The University of Texas at Arlington, and many other universities.

Consideration for political office

On July 12, 2016, The New York Times and other media organizations reported that Stavridis was being vetted by the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign as a possible vice presidential running mate on the Democratic ticket.^[43] The Washington Post summarized Stavridis' qualifications in a short video.^[44] Publications like Navy Times cited his NATO leadership as pluses.^[45] An article in Politico called him "Hillary's Anti-Trump." Stavridis was quoted in that article as joking: "My name is too long for a bumper sticker." Eventually, Clinton selected Tim Kaine.^[46] On December 8, 2016, Stavridis went to Trump Tower in New York City to meet with President-elect Donald Trump. Following the meeting, Stavridis told reporters that they had discussed world events, cybersecurity and other matters.^[47] Press accounts suggested he was under consideration for Secretary of State or Director of National Intelligence.^[48] On December 14, 2016, however, in an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Stavridis said that he would not be taking a position in the Trump administration.^[49]

Awards and decorations

U.S. Army General David H. Petraeus, right, with the U.S. Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis, commander of European Command and NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe in Brussels in 2011

U.S. Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Army General John Craddock and U.S. Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis, incoming commander, salute during the national anthem at the U.S. European Command change of command ceremony at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart in June 2009

U.S. military decorations

Stavridis has received the following awards and decorations of the United States military.

Surface Warfare Officer badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with four gold award stars
	Meritorious Service Medal with two gold award stars
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Navy Commendation Medal with three gold award stars
	Navy Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
	Navy Unit Commendation
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 2 bronze service stars
	Navy "E" Ribbon w/ Wreathed Battle E device
	Navy Expeditionary Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one bronze service stars
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Armed Forces Service Medal with two bronze service stars
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and two bronze service stars
	Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star
	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

International decorations

Commander's degree, National Order of the Legion of Honour of France[50]

Grand Cross Order of the Crown (Belgium)

Grand Cross Order of the Phoenix (Greece)

Commendation Ministry of Defense: "Cross of Merit and Honour First Class" (Greece)

Estonian Order of the Cross of the Eagle First Class[51]

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Knight Grand Cross of the Republic

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Grand Merit Cross with Star[52]

Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

The Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary

Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit (Poland)[53]

Order of Duke Trpimir (Croatia)

Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania[54]

Investiture Medal of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.[55]

Order of Naval Merit (Argentina)

Order of Naval Merit in the degree of Grand Officer (Brazil)

Cruz de la Victoria (Chile)[56]

Order of Naval Merit Admiral Padilla (Colombia)

Order of the Peruvian Cross of Naval Merit in the rank of Grand Cross along with a White Ribbon (Peru)[57]

The Emblem of Honor of the General Staff of Romania

Medal of Honorary Recognition of Latvia[58]

Military Merit Grand Cross Medal of the Portuguese Republic

Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali - I Rank (Georgia)[59]

Albanian Medal of Gratitude[60]

Slovenian Medal for multinational cooperation 1st grade

Navy National Defense Cross (Guatemala)

Grand Cross (Dominican Republic)

NATO Meritorious Service Medal

NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

05/21/2016 - Medford/Somerville, Mass. - James Stavridis, Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University poses with Arianna Huffington at the 2016 Class Day for the school. (Matthew Healey for Tufts University)

Other awards and honors

Stavridis has received an array of other awards and honors, including the following (listed by date conferred):

• The Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award of the Naval War College, given annually to a graduate of the college who has "attained positions of prominence in the field of national security" (2003).^[61]
• The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum's Intrepid Freedom Award, "presented to a national or international leader who has distinguished himself in promoting and defending the values of freedom and democracy" (2011).^[62]
• The AFCEA's David Sarnoff Award, the group's highest honor, given "to recognize individuals who have made lasting and significant contributions to global peace" (2011).^[63]
• The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Order of St. Andrew the Apostle's Athenagoras Human Rights Award, accepted on behalf of the U.S. armed forces (2011).^[64]
• The Navy League of the United States's Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement (2011).
• The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Service Award, given "in recognition of his service to the defense of the United States and our European allies, and for strengthening security cooperation with Israel" (2011).^[65]
• The Atlantic Council's Distinguished Military Leadership Award (2011)^[66]
• The Business Executives for National Security's Eisenhower Award (2012).^[67]
• The Chian Federation's 33rd Annual Homeric Award (2012)^[68]
• Stimson Center Pragmatist + Idealist Award, for work "to strengthen international security by helping countries in the developing world improve the lives of their people" (2013).^[69]
• The Alpha Omega Council's Lifetime Achievement Award, given to a distinguished Greek American citizen (2015)^[70]
• The Naval Order of the United States's Distinguished Sea Service Award, for "professional leadership and support to the Sea Services of the United States of America" (2015).^[71]
• The Truce Foundation of the USA awarded him their inaugural "Building Bridges Award"^[72] at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
• The Washington Institute 2016 Scholar-Statesman Award^[73]
• Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts University Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award, 2017
• Ellis Island Medals of Honor Recipient 2017^[74]
• The American Veterans Center 2017 Andrew Goodpaster Prize ^[75]

Published works

Selected books

• "Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World's Oceans," Penguin Press, June 6, 2017,
• "The Leader's Bookshelf,"^[76] U.S. Naval Institute Press, 2017, ISBN 978-1682471791
• The Accidental Admiral: A Sailor Takes Command at NATO, U.S. Naval Institute Press, 2014 ISBN 978-1-61251-704-9
• Partnership for the Americas: Western Hemisphere Strategy and U.S. Southern Command, NDU Press, November 2010
• Command At Sea, Sixth Edition, Annapolis: U.S. Naval Institute Press, Co-authored with Rear Admiral Robert Girrier, USN, 2010 ISBN 9781591147985
• Destroyer Captain: Lessons of a First Command, U.S. Naval Institute Press, 2007 ISBN 9781591148494
• Watch Officer’s Guide, Twelfth Edition, Annapolis: U.S. Naval Institute Press, Co-authored with Captain Robert Girrier, 2006 ISBN 9781591149361
• Division Officer’s Guide, Eleventh Edition, Annapolis: U.S. Naval Institute Press, Co-authored with Commander Robert Girrier, 2005 ISBN 9781591147992

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to James G. Stavridis.

• Appearances on C-SPAN
• An extensive and relevant analysis of the role played by Stavridis in the Mediterranean and in the militarization of the so-called "migrant crisis" in the documentary review OJALA/SanchoPanzaLab n.6 (Paris, January 2017) (in Spanish)]
• U.S. Smart Power: Interview with Adm. Stavridis. Bjoern H. Seibert, Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, Summer 2008 Vol 32:2.
• Interview with Adm. Stavridis. Col David H. Gurney, USMC, Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 50, 3d Quarter 2008
• EUCOM blog
• Stavridis gives testimony regarding Libya crisis, March 28, 2011 - see 4.39pm

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=270".