General Hugh Shelton to Keynote Annual Meeting

The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce and its premier sponsors, RBC Bank and Reach Out Rocky Mount/Fun Run for Charities, are pleased to announce that General Henry Hugh Shelton (Retired) will be the keynote speaker at its 106th Annual Meeting to be held on February 3, 2010 at Nash Community College . Order Tickets More Information on General Shelton Video of General Shelton

General Shelton was born in Tarboro, North Carolina and received a bachelor’s degree in textiles from North Carolina State University and soon thereafter, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry through the Reserve Officer Training and went on to spend the next 38 years in a variety of command and staff positions in the continental United States, Hawaii, and Vietnam.  He served two combat tours in Vietnam with the 5^th Special Forces Group and then the 173^rd Airborne Brigade.  He also commanded the 3^rd Battalion, 60^th Infantry in the 9^th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis , Washington ; served as the 9^th Infantry Division’s Chief of Staff for operations; commanded the 1^st Brigade of the 82^nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg , North Carolina ; and was the Chief of Staff of the 10^th Mountain Division at Fort Drum , New York . 

Shelton was selected for promotion to brigadier general in 1988 and served two years in the Operations Directorate of the Joint Staff.  In 1989, he began a two-year assignment as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations of the 101^st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell , Kentucky , where he participated in the liberation of Kuwait during Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM.  After the Gulf War, General Shelton was promoted to major general and assumed the command of the 82^nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg , North Carolina .  In 1993 he was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps; and in 1994 during his tenure as Corps commander, Shelton led the United States Joint Task Force that restored democracy in Haiti .  He was promoted in 1994 to general and became Commander in Chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command. 

General Hugh Shelton became the 14^th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, 1997, and served two two-year terms, retiring on September 30, 2001.  Throughout his tenure as chairman, U.S. forces were in heavy demand and participated in numerous joint operations around the globe. 

Shelton holds a master’s degree from Auburn University , and has attended Harvard University , the Air Command and Staff College , and the National War College .  Among his many military awards, General Shelton has received four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, and the Purple Heart.  He has been decorated by 16 foreign governments and, in 2001, General Shelton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.  

For his exemplary service to his country, the 107^th Congress bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal on General Shelton on September 19, 2002. 

Highlights of Shelton ’s civilian awards include the Charlotte (NC) World Affairs World Citizen Award for 2002, North Carolina ’s highest Award for Public Service, the Eisenhower Award from the Business Executives for National Security, the American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award, Intrepid Freedom Award, and recognition as National Father of the Year, among others.  He is also the recipient of the United States Army Infantry’s 2008 Doughboy Award, the 2009 NFL and College Football Hall of Fame Distinguished American Award and was presented the Army Special Operations Professionals Man of the Year award in 2009. 

After retiring from the Armed Forces, General Shelton has served as President, International Operations, M.I.C. Industries from 2001-2005; and he has served on a number of public and private company boards.  General Shelton is the Executive Director of the General Hugh Shelton Leadership Center at North Carolina State University and serves as Director of the Hugh and Carolyn Shelton Military Neurotrauma Foundation, Washington, DC. 

With the current state of military activity and the importance of emerging leadership, General Shelton’s address at The Chamber’s Annual Meeting will be a valuable opportunity for the community.   

“It is a proud moment for our community to be able to give a ‘hero’s welcome’ to one of our area’s most notable citizens as we gather to recap 2009 accomplishments and look ahead to our potential for continued community progress,” stated 2009 Chairman John Kincheloe. 

The event signals a changing of the guard for The Chamber, passing the reins of Chamber community leadership from 2009 Chairman John Kincheloe to 2010 Chairman Fred Turnage.  The event also announces and honors the highly coveted distinguished citizen of the year as well as winners of other prestigious awards. 

Chairman Turnage noted:  “The opportunity to hear from such a strong and recognized leader that has had a significant impact on our nation’s history and in the cause of democracy will surely make for a meaningful and inspirational message for our community.” 

The meeting begins promptly with seating for dinner at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets for the event are $40 per ticket, or $320 for a table seating eight for the dinner program.  Click here to order tickets, or contact The Chamber at (252) 973-1211.