Colonel George Stavridis enlisted during World War II and fought in Korea and Vietnam, winning the bronze star and many other combat decorations. He commanded the First Marine Battalion at Da Nang in 1967, and went on to lead the USMC Command and staff college from 1968-1971 before retiring in 1972. He earned a PhD and became President of Allegheny Community College in western Pennsylvania for a decade before retiring in Florida. He is the father of Admiral James Stavridis.