General McCaffrey began his distinguished military career as a
17-year-old Cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.
He served four combat tours in the Dominican Republic, Vietnam (twice),
and Iraq. When he retired from active duty, he was the most highly
decorated officer and the youngest four star general in the U.S. Army. He
twice received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second
highest award for valor. He also received two awards of the Silver Star
for heroism, four awards of the Bronze Star, and three Purple Heart
medals for wounds sustained in combat. During Operation Desert Storm, he
commanded the 24th Infantry Division and led the 200 kilometer "left
hook" attack that sliced into the Euphrates River Valley and trapped the
Iraqi Republican Guards.
General McCaffrey graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts
and the U.S. Military Academy. He has a Master of Arts degree in Civil
Government and American University and taught American Government,
National Security Studies, and Comparative Politics at West Point. He
also attended the Harvard University National Security Program.
General McCaffrey served as the JCS assistant to General Colin Powell.
While serving as the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy on the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, he was the principal JCS Staff military advisor to
three secretaries of state and to the U.S. Ambassador to the United
Nations. Among the numerous awards he has received for his distinguished
service to the American people are: the Department of State's Superior
Honor Award for support of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks; the NAACP
Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award; and decorations from the French,
Brazilian, and Argentine governments.
General McCaffrey is married to the former Jill Ann Faulkner. They have
three married children: Sean, a U.S. Army infantry Captain; Tara, a U.S.
Army Washington National Guard nurse; and Amy, a school teacher.
Barry R. McCaffrey, Director
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Barry McCaffrey was confirmed by unanimous vote of the U.S.
Senate as
the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP) on 29 February 1996. He serves as the senior drug policy official
in the Executive Branch and as the President's chief drug policy
spokesman. He is also a member of the National Security Council, and the
Cabinet Council on Counternarcotics. Prior to confirmation as ONDCP
Director, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Southern Command
based in Panama.