George Lee Butler General George Lee Butler ( born June 17 , 1939 ) , sometimes known as Lee Butler , was commander in chief , United States Strategic Command , and the last commander of Strategic Air Command . Following his retirement from the military he became active in the nuclear disarmament movement , calling for the outright abolition of nuclear weapons . Education . Butler was born in 1939 at Fort Benning , Georgia , and graduated in 1957 from Washington - Lee High School in Arlington , Virginia . He earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1961 and a master ' s degree in international affairs from the University of Paris in 1967 . He completed Squadron Officer School in 1964 , Air Command and Staff College in 1970 , and Armed Forces Staff College in 1974 . Pilot training . He was commissioned in June 1961 and received undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air Force Base , Arizona , followed by basic instructor school at Randolph Air Force Base , Texas . He then flew as an instructor pilot in T - 33s and also served as an academic instructor at Craig Air Force Base , Alabama , from March 1963 to December 1964 . Study abroad . Butler was selected for study in France as an Olmsted scholar . He received French language training at the State Department ' s Foreign Services Institute , Arlington , Virginia , prior to attending the University of Paris . After graduation , he attended F - 4 combat crew training school and was assigned in March 1968 to the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing , Cam Ranh Bay Air Base , South Vietnam . Career . From August 1968 to March 1969 he was aide to the commander of 7th Air Force , Tan Son Nhut Air Base , South Vietnam . Returning to the United States and the U . S . Air Force Academy , he served as an instructor in the political science department , and as an executive officer and air officer commanding in the academy ' s military training department . In July 1971 Butler was assigned as special assistant to the director , Office of Emergency Preparedness , Executive Office of the President , Washington , D . C . He again returned to the academy in January 1972 , as an assistant professor in the political science department . After completing combat crew training in October 1972 , he was assigned as chief pilot of the 53rd Military Airlift Squadron , 63rd Military Airlift Wing , Norton Air Force Base , California . Further education . He entered the Armed Forces Staff College in July 1973 and , after graduating in February 1974 , was assigned as air operations officer , International Relations Branch , Directorate of Plans , Strategic Arms Limitation Talks , Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . Remaining at the Pentagon , he served from October 1974 to September 1975 as executive officer for the special assistant for strategic initiatives , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff , Plans and Operations , Air Force headquarters . Other Pentagon assignments in the following years included plans and programs officer , Strategy Development and Analysis , Directorate of Plans ; executive director , Air Force Budget Issues Team ; executive director , Airborne Warning and Control System task force ; and chief , Congressional and Joint Matters Division , Directorate of Concepts . After B - 52 combat crew training in May 1977 , Butler was assigned to the 416th Bombardment Wing ( Heavy ) , Griffiss Air Force Base , New York , first as assistant deputy commander for operations and , later , as the wing ' s deputy commander for operations . In June 1979 he returned to Air Force headquarters as chief of a policy analysis group serving the Air Force chief of staff . Command posts . From March 1981 to June 1983 Butler was assigned as vice commander of the 320th Bombardment Wing ( Heavy ) , Mather Air Force Base , California , and then as wing commander . He subsequently took command of the 96th Bombardment Wing , Dyess Air Force Base , Texas , in June 1983 . In July 1984 he was assigned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command , Offutt Air Force Base , as inspector general . Butler returned to Air Force headquarters in August 1986 as deputy director of operations and became director in January 1987 . In May 1987 he became vice director for strategic plans and policy , J - 5 , Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ; in July 1989 he then became the director . In January 1991 he became the last commander in chief , Strategic Air Command , and director , Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff , with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base . The Strategic Air Command was the nation ' s major nuclear deterrent force with bombers , tankers , reconnaissance aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles . The Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff coordinated U . S . nuclear war plans and developed the Single Integrated Operational Plan . He assumed his current command in June 1992 , when Strategic Air Command was disestablished . Awards . Butler is a command pilot with more than 3 , 000 flying hours . He also holds navigator and parachutist ratings . His military awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , Air Force Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster , Distinguished Flying Cross , Bronze Star , Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters , Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters , and Air Force Commendation Medal . He was promoted to general January 25 , 1991 , with same date of rank , and retired February 28 , 1994 . Following his retirement he became active in the nuclear disarmament movement , and gave a speech in New Zealand , among other events , in so doing . In a series of public statements , beginning with a major speech at the National Press Club in 1996 , he called for the outright abolition of nuclear weapons . In 1999 , he and his wife founded the Second Chance Foundation , dedicated to promoting responsible global reduction of nuclear dangers . He was awarded The 8th Annual Heinz Award for Public Policy for his work . Personal life . He is married , has a son and daughter and six grandchildren .