General Joseph Ralston, USAF (Ret.)

Joseph Ralston is currently Vice Chairman of The Cohen Group in Washington D.C.  In 2003, General Ralston completed a distinguished 37-year Air Force career as Commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO. As NATO commander, General Ralston contributed to preserving the peace and security and territorial integrity of the NATO member nations

General Ralston also led the efforts to integrate the three nations that were admitted to NATO in 1999 and oversaw the process to invite seven nations to join NATO in 2002.

General Ralston served as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1996-2000), the nation’s second highest-ranking military officer. His previous assignments included Commander of the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia and he commanded the Alaskan Command and the Alaskan NORAD Region. He has served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force for Plans and Operations, as Director of Tactical Programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, and as Director of Air Force Operational Requirements.

General Ralston is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours, including 147 combat missions over Laos and North Vietnam.

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