James G. Stavridis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James G. Stavridis
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Stavridis in July 2009
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| Nickname(s) | Zorba |
| Born | February 15, 1955 West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1976–2013 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Supreme Allied Commander Europe United States European Command United States Southern Command Enterprise Carrier Strike Group USS Barry |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Libyan Civil War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5) |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy (BS) Tufts University (PhD) |
James George Stavridis (born February 15, 1955) is a retired United States Navy admiral. An admiral is a very high-ranking officer in the Navy. After leaving the Navy, he became a leader in global affairs and a TV analyst. He also writes books.
Admiral Stavridis graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1976. This is a special school for future Navy officers. He later earned a PhD from Tufts University.
During his time in the Navy, he led important commands. He was in charge of the United States Southern Command from 2006 to 2009. Then, he became the commander of the United States European Command and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) from 2009 to 2013. He was the first Navy officer to hold these top positions.
After 37 years of service, Admiral Stavridis retired from the Navy in 2013. He then became the dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. This school teaches about international relations. He left this role in 2018.
He was even considered for important political jobs. In 2016, he was thought of as a possible running mate for Hillary Clinton. Later that year, he was also considered for Secretary of State by Donald Trump.
Admiral Stavridis is also a successful author. He has written many books, including The Accidental Admiral and Sea Power. His novel, 2034: A Novel of the Next World War, was a bestseller. His books have been translated into many languages.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
James Stavridis was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. His father, Paul George Stavridis, was a United States Marine Corps colonel. His father fought in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
James Stavridis is married to Laura Hall. She is an author too. His grandparents on his father's side were Anatolian Greeks. They moved to the United States from Turkey. His mother's family was Pennsylvania Dutch.
In one of his books, Stavridis shared a family story. His grandfather, Dimitrios Stavridis, was forced to leave Turkey in the 1920s. This was part of a difficult time for Greeks living there. His grandfather escaped by boat to Greece and then to the United States.
Years later, Admiral Stavridis led a NATO exercise near Turkey. He found it amazing that he returned to the same city, Smyrna (now İzmir), where his grandfather had left as a refugee.
Stavridis graduated with honors from the United States Naval Academy in 1976. He became a surface warfare officer. This means he served on ships like aircraft carriers, cruisers, and destroyers.
He was an important officer on the USS Valley Forge and USS Antietam CG-54. From 1993 to 1995, he commanded the destroyer USS Barry. During this time, the Barry went on missions to Haiti, Bosnia, and the Persian Gulf. His ship won the Battenberg Cup as the best ship in the Atlantic Fleet.
From 2002 to 2004, Stavridis led the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. They took part in combat operations in the Persian Gulf. These operations supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Later, he became a vice admiral. He served as a top military assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense. In 2006, he became the first Navy officer to lead the United States Southern Command. In 2009, he became the 16th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) for NATO. He retired from this role in 2013.
Stavridis often talked about "smart power." This means using both strong military power and diplomacy together. He believed in building connections between countries and groups. He wanted to create security by working together, not just by building defenses. He shared these ideas in his book, "Partnership for the Americas." He also gave a popular TED Talk about global security.
Leading the Fletcher School
Stavridis became the dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in July 2013. This school is part of Tufts University.
As dean, he worked on new plans for the school. He invited many important speakers to the campus. He also focused on new topics like the Arctic, women in international relations, and cybersecurity. He also looked at how online media affects global affairs.
Media and Public Speaking
Since retiring from the Navy, Stavridis often appears on TV. He talks about national security and foreign policy. You might see him on CNN, Fox News, BBC, or NBC News. He is the chief international diplomacy and national security analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.
He also writes articles for many publications. These include Time, Foreign Policy, and The Huffington Post. He has a personal website where you can find links to his media appearances and writings.
Tufts University even set up a TV studio at the Fletcher School. This made it easy for Stavridis and other staff to speak to international news channels. In 2016, NBC News officially named him their main analyst for international security.
Stavridis is also a popular public speaker. He has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. He has also given lectures at top universities like Harvard and Yale. He has spoken to students at the U.S. Naval Academy many times.
Awards and Honors
Admiral Stavridis has received many awards for his service. These include military decorations from the U.S. and other countries.
U.S. Military Awards
He has earned many medals from the United States military. Some of these include:
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit (five times)
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
- Navy Unit Commendation
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
International Awards
He has also received awards from many countries around the world, such as:
- Commander's degree, National Order of the Legion of Honour from France
- Grand Cross Order of the Crown (Belgium)
- Grand Cross Order of the Phoenix (Greece)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Republic from Italy
- Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Knight Commander's Cross with Star
- NATO Meritorious Service Medal
Other Awards and Honors
Beyond military medals, Stavridis has received many other honors. These awards recognize his leadership and contributions to national security and international relations.
- The U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings Author of the Year (1995)
- The Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award (2003)
- The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum's Intrepid Freedom Award (2011)
- The Navy League of the United States's Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement (2011)
- The Atlantic Council's Distinguished Military Leadership Award (2011)
- The first recipient of the Distinguished Ally of the Israel Defense Forces Award (2013)
- The Truce Foundation of the USA "Building Bridges Award" (2016)
- Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient (2017)
- Winston S. Churchill Leadership Award (2019)
- Selected as a 2023 United States Naval Academy Distinguished Graduate
Selected Books
Admiral Stavridis has written many books. Here are some of them:
- 2054: A Novel (with Elliot Ackerman), 2024
- To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision, 2022
- The Sailor's Bookshelf: Fifty Books to Know the Sea, 2021
- 2034: A Novel of the Next World War (with Elliot Ackerman), 2021
- Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character, 2019
- Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World's Oceans, 2017
- The Leader's Bookshelf, 2017
- The Accidental Admiral: A Sailor Takes Command at NATO, 2014
- Partnership for the Americas: Western Hemisphere Strategy and U.S. Southern Command, 2010
- Destroyer Captain: Lessons of a First Command, 2007
Images for kids
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U.S. Army General David H. Petraeus (right) with Admiral James G. Stavridis in Brussels in 2011
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Admiral Mike Mullen (left), General Bantz John Craddock (center), and Admiral James G. Stavridis (right) at a ceremony in Stuttgart in 2009
See also
In Spanish: James G. Stavridis para niños
