GENERAL RALPH E. ED EBERHART
Selected for reassignment as Commander, U.S. Northern Command, and Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.General Ralph E. "Ed" Eberhart is Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command; Commander, U.S. Space Command; and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
General Eberhart 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. The general has also served as the Air Force’s Vice Chief of Staff, and as Commander of Air Combat Command and Commander of Air Force Space Command.
General Eberhart also commanded a flight, squadron, wing, numbered air force, as well as sub-unified and unified commands. 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. A command pilot, he has logged more than 4,500 hours primarily 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
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, later, Chief, Executive Committee, Air Force Budget Issues Team, Directorate of Plans, Congressional and External Affairs Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, 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, later, 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, 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, later, 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, Washington, D.C.
15. February 1994 - June 1995, Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
16. June 1995 - June 1996, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, 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, Washington, D.C.
19. June 1999 - February 2000, Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
20. February 2000 – April 2002, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command; and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
21. April 2002 – present, Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command; Commander, U.S. Space Command; and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,500 hours
Aircraft flown: O-2, T-38, T-39, F-4E, RF-4C, F-16, F-15 and C-21
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
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
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait)
The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Japan
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
Able Aeronaut Award, Pacific Air Forces
General Jimmy Doolittle Award, Air Force Association
Distinguished Achievement Award, Air Force Association Tennessee Ernie Ford Chapter
Member, Council of Foreign Relations
Tom Lombardo Leadership Award, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame
Thomas D. White Space Award, Air Force Association
Air Force Order of the Sword, Air Force Space Command
General Bernard A. Schriever Award, Air Force Association
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 July 2002)
