Hugh Shelton General Henry Hugh Shelton ( born January 2 , 1942 ) is a retired American career military officer of the United States Army . He served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997 to 2001 . Early life , family and education . Born in Tarboro , North Carolina , Shelton was raised just outside the small town of Speed , North Carolina . North Carolina Highway 122 , which runs through Speed to Hobgood , North Carolina ( right past the homestead he was raised on ) , was later named " General Henry Hugh Shelton Hwy " in his honor . Shelton attended North Carolina State University and was a member of Pershing Rifles . He earned a degree in textile engineering while earning his Army commission through ROTC training . Shelton ' s further education includes a master ' s degree in political science from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1973 as well as studies at the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College . Shelton married Carolyn L . Johnson in 1963 and have three sons together . In 2002 he underwent spinal surgery . Military service . Shelton served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group , and with the 173rd Airborne Brigade , followed by a series of command and staff assignments . Following the Gulf War , Shelton commanded the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in his home state of North Carolina . In 1993 , he was given command of XVIII Airborne Corps . Shelton led the Joint Task Force responsible for Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti in 1994 . In 1996 , Shelton , a Special Forces soldier , was promoted to the rank of General and the position of Commander in Chief of United States Special Operations Command ( SOCOM ) . Upon the retirement of John M . Shalikashvili , Shelton was appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1 , 1997 . Shelton led the planning of the Kosovo War in 1999 during his time in office . Later during his time in that office he coined the phrase " Dover test " , testing the support for a war based on the reaction of the people after seeing American casualties returning at the Dover Air Force Base . During the events of September 11 , 2001 , Shelton was on a plane traveling to a NATO meeting in Europe , but turned back and returned to Washington . Upon Shelton ' s end of term , President George W . Bush nominated then - Vice Chairman Air Force General Richard Myers who was sworn in on October 1 , 2001 . Post - military career . In his retirement , Shelton joined the Board of Directors of Red Hat Corporation in April 2003 , and was elected that board ' s chairman in 2010 . He also holds directorships at Anheuser Busch , Anteon International and Protective Products of America ( PPA . TO ) . Shelton also served as an advisor to Senator John Edwards ' presidential campaign from 2003 - 2004 . Shelton created a minor controversy for 2004 Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark , a subordinate to Shelton during the 1999 Kosovo military actions , when he stated : " I will tell you the reason [ Clark ] came out of Europe early had to do with integrity and character issues , things that are very near and dear to my heart . [ … ] I ' ll just say Wes won ' t get my vote , " casting doubt upon the presidential contender ' s legitimacy . On March 1 , 2008 , General Shelton announced his endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary , stating , " I ’ ve been with Senator Clinton when she has been with our military men and women . I know from those experiences that she understands the demands and sacrifice of military life . I am confident she will always put the readiness and well being of our troops first . She is ready to be Commander - in - Chief . " General Shelton was the second Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to endorse Senator Clinton , the first being General John Shalikashvili . On October 12 , 2010 , General Shelton published his autobiography , " Without Hesitation : The Odyssey of an American Warrior " , along with coauthors Ron Levinson and Malcolm McConnell . An excerpt tells the story of a high - ranking Cabinet member proposing that General Shelton intentionally allow an American pilot to be killed by the Iraqis to have an excuse to retaliate and go to war . The book also tells of Bill Clinton ' s tearful confession to General Shelton ; a time during the Clinton administration when a close Clinton aide lost possession of the " biscuit " ( top secret presidential nuclear launch authorization codes ) ; details of a contentious Camp David meeting among President George W . Bush and his National Security Council immediately after 9 / 11 , where internal battle lines were drawn . His book also says there were multiple attempts to kill Osama bin Laden that were shot down by Madeleine Albright . On August 27 , 2010 , a statue of General Shelton was unveiled and dedicated at the Airborne Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville , NC . The statue was commissioned and donated by H . Ross Perot . On October 24 , 2010 , General Shelton appeared on " This Week with Christiane Amanpour " , on December 6 , 2010 appeared on " The Daily Show " with Jon Stewart , and on December 30 , 2010 appeared on " The Charlie Rose Show " on PBS and Bloomberg TV , to promote the publication of his memoir " Without Hesitation : The Odyssey of an American Warrior " . On October 20 , 2012 , General Shelton was honored at the 6th Annual Brian & Kendra ' s Bluegrass Party in Speed , NC . He was presented with a Distinguished Achievements plaque and a road side display at the entrance of Speed , NC honoring General Shelton ' s home town and acknowledgement of his achievements . Decorations and badges . General Shelton has been decorated for service , to include :