Joseph W. Ralston

Joseph W. Ralston Retired General, USAF
Vice Chairman, The Cohen Group

Joseph W. Ralston has served as vice chairman of The Cohen Group since 2003. The organization provides clients with comprehensive tools for understanding and shaping their business, political, legal, regulatory and media environments.

A retired general, he completed a distinguished 37-year Air Force career as supreme Allied commander for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2003. From 1996-2000, he served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s second highest-ranking military officer.

Ralston also has served on the boards of Lockheed Martin Corporation since 2003, Lynden, Inc. since 2007 and on the URS Corporation board from 2003 until 2014. He serves on the Classified Business and Security, Ethics and Sustainability and Strategic Affairs and Executive committees of Lockheed Martin.

His experience in the private sector combined with his distinguished military career provides the board with unmatched expertise across a range of complex operational, human resources, supply chain/logistical and other issues. Ralston provides specific insights and knowledge in aerospace, a significant market for the company, as well as an understanding of the political environment in Washington and the challenges and opportunities resulting from governmental actions. At Timken, he is a member of the Audit Committee, chairs the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and also serves as lead independent director. He has been a Timken director since 2003.