Jeffrey J. Schloesser

Jeffrey J. Schloesser, USA is a retired Major General and the former President of Aviation Worldwide Services (AAR CORP). He currently runs Jeff Schloesser Consulting. Schloesser retired from the Army in August 2010 as the Director of Army Aviation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G3/5/7 and former commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Schloesser took command of the 101st from Lieutenant General Thomas R. Turner II during a change of command ceremony at Fort Campbell on November 10, 2006. Schloesser led the 101st/Combined Joint Task Force-101 in Afghanistan from April 2008 to June 2009 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This command was the fifth time Schloesser has served with the 101st Airborne during his Army career.

Military career
Schloesser enlisted in the US Army in 1976 and was commissioned an officer into the Army after attending Officer Candidate School in 1977. He first served as a platoon leader of B Company of the 293rd Combat Engineer Battalion (Heavy) in Baumholder, Germany. He continued to serve as an Engineer, Army Aviator, Middle East Foreign area officer, Special Operations Aviator, and Army Strategist. He commanded the 1st and 2nd Special Operations Aviation Battalions (both of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment) and 12th Aviation Brigade (V Corps). Schloesser served in Germany, South Korea, Jordan, and Kuwait, as well as commanding deployed task forces in Haiti, Albania, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He also served as a Political Military Officer at the U.S. Department of State.

In August 2000 he was assigned as Chief, Office of Military Cooperation, Kuwait, United States Central Command. In October 2001 he started and became the first Chief, War on Terrorism Strategic Planning Cell, J-5, the Joint Staff. During Operation Iraqi Freedom (June 2003-June 2004), he served as Assistant Division Commander (Support), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). From July 2004 until July 2005 Schloesser was Director, Army Aviation Task Force, Headquarters, Department of the Army. Schloesser most recently served as Deputy Director for Strategic Operational Planning, National Counterterrorism Center, from July 2005 to November 2006, when he took command of the 101st.

Education and training
Schloesser received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Philosophy and Geography from the University of Kansas and an MSFS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He was a Senior Service College Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Schloesser graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1977. Schloesser is also a student of Arabic, German, and French.

U.S. Decorations and Badges
Schloesser's awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with device), the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (with two OLC), the National Defense Service Medal (with OLC), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with OLC), the Kosovo Campaign Medal (with OLC), the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with OLC), and the NATO Medal. He also wears the Presidential Unit Citation (with device), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with two OLC), and the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation. His badges include the Senior Army Aviator Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Personal life


Schloesser is the son of a retired U.S. Army Armor Lt. Colonel, Kenneth Schloesser. Jeffrey Schloesser and his wife, Patty (née Drysdale), also a Kansas graduate, have one son, Ryan—a Civil Affairs Captain in the U.S. Army—and one daughter, Kelly, a Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Army. Schloesser's younger brother, Chris Schloesser, also a graduate of the University of Kansas, is Legislative Director for Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV).