Ervin J. Rokke

Lieutenant General Ervin J. Rokke (Retired July 1, 1997) "is president, National Defense University, Washington, D.C., whose mission is to ensure excellence in professional military education and research in the essential elements of national security. He is responsible directly to the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and exercises jurisdiction over all organizations, establishments, facilities and personnel assigned or attached to the National Defense University.

"The general was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1962. After receiving a graduate degree in international relations from Harvard University, he completed intelligence training at Lowry Air Force Base, Colo. Several intelligence assignments in Japan and Hawaii were followed by a tour as an instructor at the academy. He returned to Harvard University and received a doctorate in international relations in 1970. General Rokke was the U.S. air attache to the United Kingdom before being selected as the dean of faculty at the academy in 1983. He witnessed the last days of the Soviet Union as the U.S air and defense attache to Moscow between 1987 and 1989, and later served as director of intelligence, U.S. European Command. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as assistant chief of staff, intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C." 


 * Ex officio director, USIP