Gen. Philip Breedlove, USAF (Ret.), former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Joins CNAS Board of Advisors

Washington, December 11 – The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) announced today that Gen. Philip Breedlove, USAF (Ret.), a 39-year veteran of the United States Air Force and former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, will join the CNAS Board of Advisors. As a member of the Board of Advisors, he will actively contribute to the development and execution of the organization’s intellectual agenda. The Board of Advisors is comprised of prominent leaders from the private sector, academia, the military, and government who help inform the Center’s research and expand its community of interest. 

“General Breedlove has been one of the nation's most distinguished military leaders," said CNAS President Richard Fontaine. “During his four decades of service to our country, he dealt with a rich array of critical national security issues. We are pleased to welcome him to CNAS' Board of Advisors. His expertise and experience will be invaluable to the Center's work.”

During his service in the U.S. Air Force, Breedlove led large-scale, diverse, global operations across two theaters of combat and earned a reputation as an inspirational leader focused on his people, their families, and mission accomplishment. Leading a diverse political-military alliance, he built consensus and formed teams to accomplish complex tasks spanning multiple continents.

As the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and the Commander of U.S. European Command, he answered directly to NATO’s governing body, the North Atlantic Council, and to the president of the United States and secretary of defense. He led the most comprehensive and strategic structural and policy security changes in the alliance’s 70-year history. His diplomatic skills reassured allies, deterred potential aggressors, and maintained alliance unity during the most dynamic and challenging period since its inception. He led the forces of 28 nations and multiple partners in ensuring the security of an alliance that accounts for more than half the world’s GDP.

As Commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, Breedlove was responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining combat-ready forces while ensuring theater air defense forces were ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense. This diverse portfolio included both theater and operational air and ballistic missile defense, areas where his operational designs remain in place today.

As Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, 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 during a period of intense challenge, including devising measures to meet the requirements of the Budget Control Act’s required $480 billion reduction of the Department of Defense budget. Accordingly, he led the organization, training and equipping of more than 690,000 people serving in the U.S. Air Force and provided oversight of its $120 billion annual budget.

As Assistant Chief of Staff for Air Operations, Plans and Requirements, Breedlove directed all Air Force operations across the globe, oversaw strategic and operational planning, and set the requirements for all Air Force procurement. Additionally, he was one of two original authors of the Defense Department’s Air-Sea Battle Concept.

Breedlove served in a variety of assignments leading up to those leadership positions, including commanding a squadron, a group, three fighter wings, and a Numbered Air Force in service across three different continents. His extensive command and control experience in wartime, contingency planning, and humanitarian relief actions include operations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

He earned his Bachelor’s of Civil Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Aerospace Technology from Arizona State University. Additionally, he completed a Master’s of International Security Affairs from the National War College, a Fellowship in International Security Affairs, Seminar XXI from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and completed Leadership at the Peak at the Center for Creative Leadership Colorado Springs.

Breedlove currently serves on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board, as a Distinguished Professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech, as a Senior Advisor to Fairfax National Security Solutions, and on the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Council.

For more information, please contact Neal Urwitz at nurwitz@cnas.org or 202-457-9409.