George Lee Butler (born June 17, 1939), sometimes known as Lee Butler, is an American retired military officer. He was commander in chief,
United States Strategic Command, and the
last commander of
Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...
. Following his retirement from the military he became active in the
nuclear disarmament movement, calling for the outright abolition of
nuclear weapons
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb ...
.
Early life and education
Butler was born in 1939 at
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama–Georgia border. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employees ...
, Georgia,
and graduated in 1957 from
Washington-Lee High School in
Arlington, Virginia. He earned a
Bachelor of Science degree from the
United States Air Force Academy in 1961 and a
master's degree in international affairs from the
University of Paris in 1967. He completed
Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School (SOS), is a 5.5-week-long Professional Military Education (PME) course for U.S. Air Force and Space Force Captains, Department of the Air Force Civilian (DAFC) equivalents and International Officers. It fulfills the U.S ...
in 1964,
Air Command and Staff College in 1970, and
Armed Forces Staff College in 1974.
Military career
Butler was commissioned in June 1961 and received undergraduate pilot training at
Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, followed by basic instructor school at
Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He then flew as an instructor pilot in T-33s and also served as an academic instructor at
Craig Air Force Base, Alabama, from March 1963 to December 1964.
Butler was selected for study in France as an
Olmsted scholar. He received French language training at the State Department's
Foreign Services Institute, Arlington, Virginia, prior to attending the University of Paris. After graduation, he attended F-4 combat crew training school and was assigned in March 1968 to the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing,
Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam.
From August 1968 to March 1969 Butler was aide to the commander of
7th Air Force
The Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
The command's mission is to plan and direct air component operations in ...
,
Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. Returning to the United States and the United States Air Force Academy, he served as an instructor in the political science department, and as an executive officer and air officer commanding in the academy's military training department.
In July 1971 Butler was assigned as special assistant to the director,
Office of Emergency Preparedness, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C. He again returned to the academy in January 1972, as an assistant professor in the political science department. After completing combat crew training in October 1972, he was assigned as chief pilot of the 53rd Military Airlift Squadron, 63rd Military Airlift Wing,
Norton Air Force Base, California.
Butler entered the
Armed Forces Staff College in July 1973 and, after graduating in February 1974, was assigned as air operations officer, International Relations Branch, Directorate of Plans,
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were two rounds of bilateral conferences and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War superpowers dealt with arms control in two rounds of ta ...
, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. Remaining at the Pentagon, he served from October 1974 to September 1975 as executive officer for the special assistant for strategic initiatives, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Air Force headquarters.
Other Pentagon assignments in the following years included plans and programs officer, Strategy Development and Analysis, Directorate of Plans; executive director of Air Force Budget Issues Team; executive director,
Airborne Warning and Control System task force; and chief of Congressional and Joint Matters Division, Directorate of Concepts.
After B-52 combat crew training in May 1977, Butler was assigned to the
416th Bombardment Wing 416th may refer to:
* 416th Air Expeditionary Operations Group, provisional unit assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command
* 416th Bombardment Wing, inactive United States Air Force unit
* 416th Engineer Command (TEC), US Army Re ...
(Heavy),
Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, first as assistant deputy commander for operations and, later, as the wing's deputy commander for operations. In June 1979 he returned to Air Force headquarters as chief of a policy analysis group serving the Air Force chief of staff.
Command posts
From March 1981 to June 1983 Butler was assigned as vice commander of the 320th Bombardment Wing (Heavy),
Mather Air Force Base, California, and then as wing commander. He subsequently took command of the
96th Bombardment Wing,
Dyess Air Force Base
Dyess Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located about southwest of downtown Abilene, Texas, and west of Fort Worth, Texas.
The host unit at Dyess is the 7th Bomb Wing assigned to the Global Strike Command Ei ...
, Texas, in June 1983. In July 1984 he was assigned to Headquarters
Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...
, Offutt Air Force Base, as inspector general. Butler returned to Air Force headquarters in August 1986 as deputy director of operations and became director in January 1987.
In May 1987 Butler became vice director for strategic plans and policy, J-5, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; in July 1989 he then became the director. In January 1991 he became the last commander in chief of Strategic Air Command, and director of Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, with headquarters at
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base south of Omaha, adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), the 557th Weather Wing, and the 55th Wing (55 WG) of the Air ...
. The Strategic Air Command was the nation's major nuclear deterrent force with bombers, tankers, reconnaissance aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff coordinated U.S. nuclear war plans and developed the
Single Integrated Operational Plan
The Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) was the United States' general plan for nuclear war from 1961 to 2003. The SIOP gave the President of the United States a range of targeting options, and described launch procedures and target sets a ...
. He assumed his final command in June 1992, when Strategic Air Command was disestablished.
Awards and decorations
Butler is a
command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours. He also holds navigator and parachutist ratings. His military awards and decorations include the
Defense Distinguished Service Medal,
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal,
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
with
oak leaf cluster,
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Wh ...
,
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters,
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and
Air Force Commendation Medal.
Butler was promoted to general January 25, 1991, with same date of rank, and retired February 28, 1994.
Biographies : GENERAL GEORGE LEE BUTLER
Nuclear disarmament
Following his retirement he became active in the nuclear disarmament movement
Nuclear may refer to:
Physics
Relating to the Atomic nucleus, nucleus of the atom:
*Nuclear engineering
*Nuclear physics
*Nuclear power
*Nuclear reactor
*Nuclear weapon
*Nuclear medicine
*Radiation therapy
*Nuclear warfare
Mathematics
*Nuclear ...
, and gave a speech in New Zealand, among other events, in so doing. In a series of public statements, beginning with a major speech at the National Press Club in 1996, he called for the outright abolition of nuclear weapons. In 1999, he and his wife founded the Second Chance Foundation, dedicated to promoting responsible global reduction of nuclear dangers. He was awarded the 8th Annual Heinz Award for Public Policy in 2002 for his work.
Author: Uncommon Cause – Volume I: A Life at Odds with Convention – The Formative Years, and
Uncommon Cause – Volume II: A Life at Odds with Convention – The Transformative Years (Published 2016)
Books by General George Lee Butler
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, George Lee
1939 births
Living people
United States Air Force generals
United States Air Force Academy alumni
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War
Air University (United States Air Force) alumni
Joint Forces Staff College alumni
University of Paris alumni
Recipients of the Air Medal
Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
American expatriates in France
Washington-Liberty High School alumni
American anti–nuclear weapons activists