John J. Pershing was the former Military Commander at the University of Nebraska and went on to become the Commander of Allied Troops during World War I.

Pershing, Professor of Military Tactics at the University of Nebraska from 1891 to 1895.  While at Nebraska, he earned a law degree.  Pershing taught mathematics as well as military tactics and his students included Willa Cather and Alvin Johnson. 

After Nebraska he continued to advance in the US Military and eventually became the Commander of the American Expeditioinary Forces in WWI.  After WWI he was promoted to the Nation's highest military rank, General of the Armies of the United States, a rank that was created specifically for him.