General Henry Shelton
North Carolina People

A native of Tarboro, North Carolina, General Henry H. Shelton has been the top military adviser to the President as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 1997. He has served in the US military for almost 40 years and has participated in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the invasion to restore democracy in Haiti. Beginning his career as a second lieutenant in 1963, he advanced 30 years later to lieutenant general and commanded the 18th Airborne Corps. In 1996, he attained the rank of general and became Commander in Chief of the US Special Operations Command.

Besides his career advancements, General Shelton has also earned several awards and decorations: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Purple Hear, the Combat Infantryman badge, the Master Parachutist and Pathfinder badges, and the Air Assault and Military Freefall badges.