Gregory J. Slavonic

Gregory J. Slavonic
Franklin R. Parker
Succeeded by	Catherine L. Kessmeier (acting)
6th Navy Vice Chief of Information
In office June 1, 2001 – June 1, 2005
Personal details
Born	Gregory Joseph Slavonic (1949-05-06) May 6, 1949 (age 74) Legion of Merit Medal Bronze Star Medal (2) Meritorious Service Medal (2) Combat Action Ribbon Presidential Unit Citation[2]
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1971–2005
Rank	Rear admiral (lower half)
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Gulf War Iraq War

Gregory Joseph Slavonic

Slavonic was born in

Slavonic later reached the rank of rear admiral (lower half) and was recalled to active duty in June 2004 in order to take part in the Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom, Baghdad, Iraq. He was the first U.S. Navy flag officer assigned to the Multinational Force Iraq (MNF-I) staff and also served as the director of strategic communications and public affairs officer for Army Commanding General of Multinational Force-Iraq (MNF-I)^[5]

While in Iraq, Slavonic coordinated and executed the largest media event for the newly formed MNF-I command on July 1, 2004. It was the first court appearance of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein since his capture December 13, 2003. This media event would be seen world-wide. Also arraigned in court that day were eleven members of Saddam's cabinet (several on Iraq's "most wanted list") Abid Hamid Malmud al-Tikriti, Ali Hasan al-Majid al-Tikriti (Chemical Ali), Aziz Saleh al-Numan, Mohamed Hamza al-Zubaydi, Tariq Aziz, and Saddam's two half brothers Barzan Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti and Watban Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti. The six-hour court arraignment would be the last time all twelve men would ever be together again. Slavonic also served as the Director, Combined Press Information Center.^{[citation needed]} He retired from the Navy/Navy Reserve in June 2005.

Private sector

Slavonic held several leadership positions in both the newspaper and television industry prior to joining the Computer Sciences Corporation, supporting the U.S. Navy's outreach program.^[6] Slavonic also served as President, FlagBridge Strategic Communications for more than six years. He also was invited to be a minority owner/investor in the Oklahoma City CAVALRY professional basketball team which was the first pro basketball team in Oklahoma City. The CAVALRY was a member of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) from 1990 to 1997. In 1997 the team won the CBA championship beating the Florida BEACHDOGS in a seven-games series 4-2. In addition, he was Executive Director of the Jim Thorpe Association and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. The Jim Thorpe Association presents annually the Jim Thorpe Award to the "Outstanding Defensive Back" in Division-I NCAA college football. He was also a university adjunct professor teaching courses in Leadership, Public Relations and Mass Communications.

He has also been recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Oklahoma State University (College of Arts & Science), University of Central Oklahoma and Bishop McGuinness High School.

Public sector

Slavonic served for three and half years as the first Chief of Staff to United States Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma.^[1] In this role, Slavonic was responsible for building and organizing a senate staff including hiring, establishing processes and procedures for new Washington D.C. office, and two state offices located in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. He is currently the Executive Director for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. The agency managers seven (7) veterans homes around the state, supports over 350,000 Oklahoma veterans with various services and manages a team of 1,400 employees and oversees an annual budget of $160 million dollars.

Books authored

• The Jim Thorpe Award – The First 20 Years (with Bob Burke) (2007)
• Leadership in Action (2010)
• Profiles in Patriotic Leadership (2012)
• Charging A Tyrant - The Arraignment of Saddam Hussein (2023)

Awards and decorations

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References