arry R. McCaffrey was confirmed by unanimous vote of the U.S. Senate as the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) on February 29, 1996. He serves as a full member of the President's Cabinet and as the senior drug policy official in the Executive Branch. He is also a member of the National Security Council and the President's Drug Policy Council. Prior to confirmation as ONDCP director, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces Southern Command, coordinating all national security operations in Latin America.

General McCaffrey began his military career as a 17-year old Cadet at West Point. He served four combat tours: Dominican Republic, Vietnam (twice), and Iraq. When he retired from active duty, he was the most highly decorated and the youngest four star general in the U.S. Army. He twice received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award for valor. He also received two awards of the Silver star for heroism and three Purple Heart medals for wounds sustained in combat. During Operation Desert Storm, he commanded the 24th Infantry Division and led the 200-kilometer "left hook" attack into the Euphrates River Valley.

General McCaffrey graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, and the U.S. Military Academy. He has a Master of Arts degree in Civil Government from American University and taught American Government, National Security Studies and Comparative Politics at West Point. He also attended the Harvard University National Security Program. General McCaffrey is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an associate member of the Inter-Amencan Dialogue.

General McCaffrey served as the JCS assistant to General Colin Powell. While serving as the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he supported the chairman as the principal JCS Staff advisor to the Secretary of State and to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Among the many awards he has received for his service are: the Department of State's Superior Honor Award for support of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks; the NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award; and decorations from the French, Brazilian and Argentine governments.

General McCaffrey is married to the former Jill Ann Faulkner. They have three married children: Sean, a U.S. Army infantry captain; Tara, a U.S. Army Washington National Guard nurse; and Amy, a school teacher.

Gen. McCaffrey addressed the open session of the Elks National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, July 9.