Knights of Malta Connections: U.S. Military

• This is just the start and will grow in time, many many more people likely belong on this list
• https://optimaltimeline.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-sovereign-military-order-of-malta.html 

 

A. Widely Reported or Documented Members / High-Level Affiliates

1. General Joseph F. Dunford Jr. (Ret.) 🇺🇸⭐

   • Role: 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2015–2019), USMC General.
   • Connection: Confirmed Knight of Malta. His investiture in 2016 was reported by various Catholic news outlets and referenced in his public profile. He has attended SMOM events.
   • Context: One of the highest-ranking military officers in recent history with a publicly acknowledged SMOM affiliation.
    

2. General Raymond T. Odierno (Ret.) 🇺🇸⭐

   • Role: 38th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army (2011–2015).
   • Connection: Reported Knight of Malta. Publicly honored by the North American Association of the SMOM at their 2014 Annual Gala for military leadership. His affiliation is widely cited in analyses of military-religious networks.
   • Context: Acknowledged for his significant contributions in Iraq.
    
   

3. General Joseph L. Votel (Ret.) 🇺🇸⭐

   • Role: Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) (2016–2019).
   • Connection: Reported Knight of Malta. His membership is noted in various biographical summaries and analyses of senior U.S. military figures with SMOM ties.
   • Context: Commanded all U.S. forces in the Middle East, including special operations.
    

4. Admiral Charles R. Larson (Ret.) 🇺🇸⭐

   • Role: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (CINCPAC) (1991–1994, 1996–1999).
   • Connection: Reported Knight of Malta. His membership has been referenced in numerous studies of SMOM's connections to defense and intelligence.
   • Context: Held one of the most strategically vital commands at the end of the Cold War and post-Cold War era.
    
   
    
   

5. General John R. Galvin (Ret.) 🇺🇸🇩🇪

   • Role: Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) (1987–1992).
   • Connection: Reported Knight of Malta. His affiliation is frequently mentioned in biographical and historical accounts.
   • Context: Held NATO's highest military position during a crucial transition period.
    
   

6. General Michael V. Hayden (Ret.) 🇺🇸🧠

   • Role: Former Director of the NSA (1999–2005) and Director of the CIA (2006–2009).
   • Connection: Widely reported Knight of Malta. While not explicitly stated on SMOM's site, his membership is confidently asserted in numerous analyses of intelligence circles and SMOM.
   • Context: Held two of the most powerful intelligence positions in the U.S. government.
    
   

7. William J. Donovan 🇺🇸🕵️‍♂️ (Historical)

   • Role: Founder and wartime head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), precursor to the CIA. Major General, U.S. Army.
   • Connection: Confirmed Knight of Malta (Grand Cross of Merit). He was a highly influential figure in intelligence, famously leveraging SMOM networks during WWII.
   • Context: His significant strategic use of SMOM's diplomatic and intelligence networks is well-documented by historians.
    
    
   

8. The Bush Family (George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, etc.) 🇺🇸🏛️

   • Connections: While direct membership of all Bush family members in SMOM is not confirmed, the family maintains very strong generational ties to organizations that overlap significantly with SMOM membership (e.g., Skull and Bones, Council on Foreign Relations) and specific individuals are linked:
     • George H.W. Bush: (Former CIA Director, President) Reported as a Knight of Malta in some analyses, though often conflated with overlapping affiliations. He consistently collaborated with SMOM figures and had strong ties to the intelligence community, where SMOM presence is noted.
     • Jeb Bush: (Former Governor of Florida) His wife, Columba Bush, is a Dame of Malta. He has attended SMOM-affiliated events.
   • Context: A powerful political dynasty with deep roots in intelligence, finance, and international relations—areas regularly intersected by SMOM.

  

 

 

 

B. Documented Collaborators / High-Level Attendees

1. Admiral James G. Stavridis (Ret.) 🇺🇸⚓️

   • Role: 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO (2009–2013).
   • Connection: Frequent keynote speaker and collaborator at SMOM events. He notably spoke at SMOM’s 2022 Global Health Conference. His public profile consistently highlights his engagement with the Order's humanitarian and diplomatic initiatives.
   • Context: A prominent naval officer and diplomat who consistently champions the Order's humanitarian and diplomatic work.
    

2. General John F. Kelly (Ret.) 🇺🇸🌊

   • Role: Former White House Chief of Staff (2017–2019), Secretary of Homeland Security, Commander of U.S. Southern Command.
   • Connection: Widely reported as a Knight of Malta in political analyses after his White House appointment, though his office has previously denied it. Whether formal or informal, the association was a frequent topic in media.
   • Context: High-level involvement across national security, homeland security, and strategic military commands.
    
   

3. General Wesley K. Clark (Ret.) 🇺🇸⚔️

   • Role: Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) (1997–2000).
   • Connection: Received the SMOM Grand Cross of Merit in 2000. He has attended and spoken at SMOM-affiliated functions focused on international relations and humanitarian efforts.
   • Context: Commanded NATO forces during the Kosovo War, actively engaged in international diplomacy.