Supreme Allied Commander in Europe to speak at Bridgewater College

Gen. Philip M. Breedlove – the four-star U.S. Air Force general who commands all United States forces in Europe as the head of U.S. European Command and all NATO forces as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe – will address leadership and how decisions are made in a speech at Bridgewater College Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m.

The speech, which will be held in Cole Hall, is free and open to the public. Breedlove’s appearance is sponsored by the Zane D. Showker Leadership Institute.

Breedlove – who has served as the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and Commander, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), since May 2013 – will discuss Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s decision-making process before and during the Normandy invasion of June 6, 1944.

He will also address the qualities that made Eisenhower a great leader, and tie those topics to the complexity of the problems that Breedlove and Allied forces confront today. Additionally, he will focus on the lessons he has learned throughout his 37-year career as a way to reinforce the concept that “leadership starts today.”

Breedlove will also address Bridgewater College’s “Big Question” for this academic year – “How do we decide?” – using examples of decision-making in his career.

A fighter pilot by trade, Breedlove previously commanded U.S. air forces in Europe and Africa. He also served as Air Component commander and director of the Joint Air Force Competence Center, both in Ramstein, Germany. He was responsible for Air Force activities conducted through the 3rd Air Force, in an area of operations covering more than 19 million square miles.

As vice chief, he presided over the air staff and served as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group. He assisted the chief of staff with organizing, training and equipping of 680,000 active-duty, guard, reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas.

A command pilot with 3,500 flying hours, primarily in the F-16, Breedlove has flown combat missions in Operation Joint Forge/Joint Guardian to implement the peace settlement in Kosovo.

He is a native of Georgia who graduated with distinction in 1977 from the Georgia Tech ROTC program.  He earned master’s degrees in aeronautical technology from Arizona State University and in national security studies from the National War College. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2002 as a Seminar XXI Fellow, and is a distinguished graduate of Squadron Officer School and Air Command and Staff College.

Breedlove holds various decorations and awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal and four awards of the Legion of Merit.

Bridgewater College is a private, four-year liberal arts college located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded in 1880, it was the state’s first private, coeducational college. Today, Bridgewater College is home to approximately 1,800 undergraduate students.