John Harold Tilelli Jr. (born 2 October 1941)[1] is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1994 to 1995; Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command from 1995 to 1996; and Commander in Chief, United Nations Command/Commander in Chief, ROK/United States Combined Forces Command/Commander, United States Forces Korea from 1996 to 1999. He retired from the United States Army on 31 January 2000, and later worked for the USO and The Aerospace Corporation.

John H. Tilelli Jr.
Tilelli in 1996
Born (1941-10-02) 2 October 1941 (age 83)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1963–2000
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited States Army Forces Command
United Nations Command
United States Forces Korea
1st Cavalry Division
2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Battles / warsVietnam War
Gulf War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal (4)
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (3)
Other workPresident, USO
Operation Dark Winter

Early life and education

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Tilelli was raised in Holmdel Township, New Jersey, and is a 1963 graduate of Pennsylvania Military College, now named Widener University, where he received a degree in economics and was commissioned an armor officer.[2] He earned a master's degree in administration from Lehigh University in 1972 and is a 1983 Army War College graduate. He also holds honorary doctorates in business management from Widener and in law from the University of Maryland.

Military career

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Tilelli, left, greeting Defense Secretary William Cohen during his arrival in South Korea in January 1998

Tilelli served two tours in the Vietnam War, four in Germany and three in the Pentagon. His combat tours include assignments as a company commander in Vietnam and as commander of the 1st Cavalry Division during the Gulf War.

Awards and decorations

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Tilelli's awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and Army Staff Identification Badge.[3]

   
 
   
    
     
   
     
     

Personal life

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Since retiring, Tilelli has served as president of the United Service Organizations (USO).[4] He was also elected to the board of trustees of The Aerospace Corporation,[5] and sat on the board of directors of Raytheon until 4 May 2005.[6] In 2006, he joined the board of directors for Xcelaero.[7] From 2008 to 2014, he served on the board of directors of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), including a two-year term as chairman of the board from 2012 to 2014.[8]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Defense.gov News Release: GENERAL OFFICER ANNOUNCEMENT". Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  2. ^ Kozaryn, Linda D. "Marine Corps Fetes USO's Tilelli" Archived 2011-06-08 at the Wayback Machine, United States Department of Defense, April 6, 2000. Accessed March 15, 2011.
  3. ^ The Aerospace Corporation bio
  4. ^ Opening of new USO corridor at Pentagon
  5. ^ "Gen. John Tilelli Elected to Board of Trustees". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  6. ^ Raytheon online Annual Report 2004 Archived 2006-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Xcelaero Appoints U.S. Army Gen. (Ret.) John H. Tilelli Jr. to Board of Directors Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Board of Directors : MOAA". Archived from the original on 2 December 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2012. About MOAA/Leadership and Governance: Board of Directors

References

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  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government

Military offices
Preceded by Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
1994–1995
Succeeded by