Scott Gration

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Early life

Gration grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where his parents worked as missionaries; during the Congo Crisis in the early 1960s, his family was evacuated three times and became refugees. After his family returned to the United States, he studied at Rutgers University, where he enlisted in the ROTC program, and after graduating joined the United States Air Force in September 1974.

Military career

After initial pilot training, Gration trained as an instructor, and instructed trainees on both the T-38 and F-5, reaching the rank of Captain. In 1980, he worked for two years as an F-5 instructor in Kenya, following which he was appointed as a White House Fellow and spent a year assisting Hans Mark, the Deputy Administrator of NASA.

Returning to flight service, he trained on the F-16, and then spent two years as an instructor and flight commanded, bring promoted to Major. In December 1985 he was posted to USAF Headquarters in Washington, to advise on international political and military affairs in the Office of Regional Plans and Policy; during this time he took a MA degree in international affairs from Georgetown University.

From January 1988 he attended the Armed Forces Staff College for six months, then was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed to a staff position in 6th Allied Tactical Air Force in Izmir, Turkey. In September 1990, he returned to flying service, as an instructor pilot and operations officer for the 512th Fighter Squadron, and in August 1991 he was appointed Chief of Safety for the 86th Fighter Wing, both based at Ramstein AB, Germany

From June 1992 he spent a year studying at the National War College, followed by two years of staff duties in Washington, including a six-month period as an Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and as a planner for the National Security Council.

In mid-1995, now promoted to Colonel, he returned to flight service, and that June took up command of the 4404th Operations Group (Provisional) in Saudi Arabia. He held command until July 1996, and was in command of the group at the time of the Khobar Towers bombing. In August 1996, he was transferred to command the 39th Wing in Turkey, and held the post for two and a half years, overseeing the start of Operation Northern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone over northern Iraq. In mid-1991 he was transferred to command 3rd Wing in Alaska, and held command until January 2000. In October 1999, he was promoted to Brigadier-General.

Through 2000 and 2001 he was Deputy Director for Operations (J-39, responsible for civil-military operations) in the Joint Staff in Washington - as a result of which he was in The Pentagon when it was hit on September 11, 2001 - and then spent a year and a half as Director of Regional Affairs for the Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs; during the last six months of this period, January to June 2003, he was promoted to Major-General and commanded Joint Task Force-West during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In August 2003 he was appointed Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, and in June 2004 the Director, Plans and Policy Directorate of United States European Command.

In the course of his career Gration recorded more than 5,000 flying hours, including 1,000 hours of combat and combat support time in 274 combat missions over Iraq. He was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit, as well as the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and some fifteen other decorations.

Political activity

In 2006, he travelled to Africa on a five-nation, fifteen-day, fact-finding tour, accompanying Senator Barack Obama as an "African expert". [ [http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2006/08/taxpayers_campaign_fund_obamas.html Taxpayers, campaign fund, Obama's own money pay for trip] - Lynn Sweet, August 28th, 2006] He later endorsed Obama's presidential campaign, citing that Obama had the "judgment, wisdom, courage, experience, and leadership capability that we desperately need". [ [http://iowa.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/IowaHQ/CtRK Barack Obama as the next Commander in Chief] - Scott Gration, July 17th, 2007]

He has publicly campaigned for Obama, and alongside Richard Danzig and General Merrill McPeak, he is one of his senior military and foreign-policy advisors.

References

* [http://www.eucom.mil/english/CommandStaff/gration.htm Major General Jonathan Scott Gration] - biography at eucom.mil
* [http://www.newsweek.com/id/32587 "Hero-Worshipping Obama"] - Michael Hirsh, "Newsweek", 2nd August 2007.