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            GENERAL RALPH E.  "ED" EBERHARTGeneral Ralph E. "Ed" Eberhart is Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, 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 Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Commander, Air Combat Command, Commander, Air Force Space Command, and as Commander in Chief, U.S. Space Command.General Eberhart has commanded a flight, squadron, wing, numbered air force and two major commands, as well as one sub-unified command, two unified commands and one bi-national 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. General Eberhart's international awards include the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, presented while serving as the Commander of U.S. Forces, Japan, by the Emperor of Japan, as well as the French Legion of Honor. A command pilot, General Eberhart has logged more than 5,000 hours, primarily in fighter and trainer aircraft, including 300 combat missions as a forward air controller in Vietnam.EDUCATION1968  Bachelor of Science degree in political science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.1973  Squadron Officer School, by correspondence1974  Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence1977  Master's degree in political science, Troy State University1987  National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.ASSIGNMENTS1.  August 1968 - August 1969, student, undergraduate pilot training, 615th Student Squadron, Air Training Command, Craig AFB, Ala.2.  February 1970 - December 1970, forward air controller, 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam3.  December 1970 - June 1974, T-38 instructor pilot, assistant flight commander, flight commander and headquarters squadron commander, 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB, 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 AFB, Texas5.  December 1975 - February 1977, F-4E flight commander and instructor pilot, 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bitburg AB, West Germany6.  February 1977 - December 1978, F-4E instructor pilot, standardization and evaluation flight examiner, and assistant Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn AB, West Germany7.  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 AB, West Germany9.  September 1982 - May 1984, Commander, 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron, later, Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn AB, West Germany10.  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 AFB, S.C.13.  October 1990 - February 1991, Deputy Chief of Staff for Inspection, Safety and Security, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, 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 AB, Japan18.  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 AFB, Va.20.  February 2000 - April 2002, Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command; Commander, Air Force Space Command; and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations, Peterson AFB, Colo.21.  April 2002 - October 2002, Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command, and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations, Peterson AFB, Colo.22.  October 2002 - present, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.FLIGHT INFORMATIONRating:  Command pilotFlight hours:  More than 5,000 hoursAircraft flown:  O-2, T-38, T-39, F-4E, RF-4C, F-16, F-15, C-21 and C-37MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONSDefense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf clusterDistinguished Service Medal with oak leaf clusterLegion of Merit with oak leaf clusterDistinguished Flying CrossDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clustersAir Medal with 11 oak leaf clustersAir Force Commendation MedalPresidential Unit CitationJoint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clustersAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf clusterCombat Readiness MedalNational Defense Service Medal with two bronze starsArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two bronze starsVietnam Service Medal with three bronze starsSouthwest Asia Service Medal with bronze starHumanitarian Service Medal with bronze starAir Force Overseas Ribbon-ShortAir Force Overseas Ribbon-Long with oak leaf clusterAir Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with seven oak leaf clustersSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonAir Force Training RibbonGrand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, JapanLegion of Honor (France)Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with PalmRepublic of Vietnam Campaign MedalKuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait)OTHER ACHIEVEMENTSAble Aeronaut Award, Pacific Air ForcesGeneral Jimmy Doolittle Award, Air Force AssociationDistinguished Achievement Award, AFA Tennessee Ernie Ford ChapterMember, Council of Foreign RelationsTom Lombardo Leadership Award, National Football Foundation and College Hall of FameThomas D. White Space Award, AFAAir Force Order of the Sword, Air Force Space CommandGeneral Bernard A. Schriever Award, AFAGeneral James V. Hartinger Award, National Defense Industrial Association, Rocky Mountain ChapterEFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONSecond Lieutenant  June 5, 1968First Lieutenant  Dec. 5, 1969Captain  June 5, 1971Major  Sept. 1, 1979Lieutenant Colonel  Nov. 1, 1981Colonel  Nov. 1, 1984Brigadier General  March 1, 1991Major General  July 1, 1993Lieutenant General  July 1, 1995General  Aug. 1, 1997(Current as of February 2004)