GEN.  BARRY R. McCAFFREY, USA (Ret.)


Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, USA (Ret.), served in the United States Army for 32 years and retired as a four-star general. At retirement, he was the most highly decorated serving general, having been awarded three Purple Heart medals for wounds received in his four combat tours, as well as two Distinguished Service Crosses, the nation's second-highest award for valor. He also twice was awarded the Silver Star for valor. He served and was wounded in Vietnam.

For five years after leaving the military, Gen. McCaffrey served as the nation’s cabinet officer in charge of U.S. drug policy. He was confirmed for this position by unanimous vote in the U.S. Senate. For this period of public service, Gen. McCaffrey received many honors including: the Department of Health and Human Service Lifetime Achievement Award for Extraordinary Achievements in the Field of Substance Abuse Prevention (2004); the United States Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award; the Norman E. Zinberg Award of the Harvard Medical School; the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s National Service Award; and the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Lifetime Achievement Award.

After leaving government service, Gen. McCaffrey served for five years (2001-2005) as the Bradley Distinguished Professor of International Security Studies at West Point. He continues as an adjunct professor of International Affairs.

Gen. McCaffrey graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., in 1960 and received his bachelor’s degree from West Point in 1964. He earned a master's degree in American government from American University and attended the Harvard University national security program, as well as the Business School’s executive education program.

He is the president of his own consulting firm based in Arlington, Va., and serves as a national security and terrorism analyst for NBC News. Gen. McCaffrey also serves as the chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Education Center at The Wall. 

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