President Obama on May 30 nominated U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Dempsey will replace U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, who retires Sept. 30.
Dempsey's promotion came less than two months after he took over as the Army's 37th chief of staff.
Obama called Dempsey "one of our nations most respected and combat tested generals. In Iraq he led our soldiers against a brutal insurgency," Obama said. "Having trained Iraqi forces he knows that nations must ultimately take responsibility for their own security."
Obama continued, "I expect [Dempsey] to push all our forces to continue adapting and innovating to be ready for the missions of today and tomorrow."
Obama also announced that he has chosen U.S. Navy Adm. James "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr., currently commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Winnefeld took command of NORTHCOM and NORAD in May 2010. Winnefeld, too, will also have to be confirmed by the Senate.
In a statement, Mullen praised the appointments of Dempsey and Winnefeld.
"Both men are extraordinary leaders, who will provide the Secretary of Defense and the President not only their best military advice, but also the great benefit of their decades of military experience and their command in combat operations.
"I know, too, that they will represent faithfully and stridently the 2.2 million men and women in uniform, as well as their families."
Obama called Dempsey "one of our nation's most respected and combat-tested generals."
Dempsey, 59, was sworn in April 11, replacing Gen. George Casey Jr., who served four years as chief of staff. Dempsey had been commander of Training and Doctrine Command. Obama also joked about Dempsey's short term as Army chief, saying "your tenure as chief may go down as one of the shortest in Army history."
Dempsey's family has deep Army roots; all three of Dempsey's children have served in the Army, and Maj. Christopher Dempsey is currently on active duty.
Winnefeld will replace U.S. Marine Gen. James "Hoss" Cartwright, current service vice chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. For months Cartwright had been considered the front runner to replace Mullen.
"Sandy knows we have to be prepared for the full range of challenges," Obama said.
Moving Dempsey up left an opening for the U.S. Army chief job, one that Obama said would be filled by the former top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno.
Dempsey leaves the Army at a time of significant transition - and a time when nearly half the service's four-star generals are at or nearing retirement.
Dempsey was chosen over Cartwright, who was often called Obama's favorite general and considered the front-runner to replace Mullen.
Obama praised Cartwright saying "I've also benefitted from the advice and counsel of Hoss Cartwright. I'll always be personally grateful to Hoss for his friendship and partnership."
Cartwright's management style has met increasing criticism, and a Pentagon investigation into claims of misconduct with a young female aide hurt his chances. The Pentagon's inspector general cleared Cartwright of the most serious claims, which suggested he'd had an improper relationship with the woman. But the investigation found that he mishandled an incident in which the aide was drunk and either passed out or fell asleep in his hotel room, where he was working, as his security personnel stood nearby.
Dempsey has significant combat experience. He served two tours in Iraq and served as acting commander of Central Command.
Dempsey's appointment as Joint Chiefs chairman, along with the appointment of Gen. David Petraeus to head the CIA, would put combat vets at the top of national security chain. Despite 10 years at war, a soldier has not served in the military's top position since U.S. Army Gen. Hugh Shelton retired in 2001.
Dempsey's replacement, Odierno, took the helm at U.S. Joint Forces Command on Oct. 29, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates had already decided to close the $1 billion command in less than a year - and promised Odierno a better job to follow.
Insiders say Odierno was neck-and-neck with Dempsey for the Army chief's spot earlier this year. He led forces in Iraq from September 2008 to September 2010 and the Multi-National Corps in Iraq from December 2006 to February 2008. The field artillery officer is most noted as the operational architect of the 2007 surge that significantly reduced violence in Iraq, and contributed greatly to the subsequent drawdown of U.S. forces there.
The leadership changes come at a time when many of the Army's top officers are growing long in the tooth.
There currently are 12 four-star generals on the books, not including Dempsey. Four are entering retirement: Casey, Petraeus, Gen. Walter Sharp and Gen. William Ward. Four of the remaining eight have a 2008 date-of-rank: Chiarelli, Odierno, Gen. Ann Dunwoody and Gen. Carter Ham.
Like Gens. James Thurman and Lloyd Austin, Gen. Keith Alexander was promoted in 2010. Gen. Robert Cone received his fourth star this year.
Dempsey planned to unveil his modernization plan to build the Army of 2020 on the Army's birthday in mid-June. That Army that will look different from today's Army in many ways, he said.
Most analysts agree that Dempsey now will likely withhold those details to allow the next chief to pen his own plan.
No matter who signs his name on the dotted line, the plans would likely address many of the same issues.
Topping that list is a plan to cut 22,000 active-duty soldiers by the end of 2013, and a combined 27,000 in 2015 and 2016. The Obama administration plans to cut another $400 billion from the defense budget, and there are many questions regarding whether troops will be cut to provide some of those savings.
There also is the push to add a third battalion to Brigade Combat Teams, the need to rightly balance heavy and light forces and the integration of the Guard and Reserve.
But arguably the biggest burden resting on the next chief is the need to overhaul the way requirements become procurement
Among the appointments announced May 30 were U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, third from right, as Joint Chiefs chairman; U.S. Navy Adm. James Winnefeld, second from right, as JCS vice chair; and U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno, right, as Army leader. (Chris Maddaloni / Staff)
Dempsey's promotion came less than two months after he took over as the Army's 37th chief of staff.
Obama called Dempsey "one of our nations most respected and combat tested generals. In Iraq he led our soldiers against a brutal insurgency," Obama said. "Having trained Iraqi forces he knows that nations must ultimately take responsibility for their own security."
Obama continued, "I expect [Dempsey] to push all our forces to continue adapting and innovating to be ready for the missions of today and tomorrow."
Obama also announced that he has chosen U.S. Navy Adm. James "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr., currently commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Winnefeld took command of NORTHCOM and NORAD in May 2010. Winnefeld, too, will also have to be confirmed by the Senate.
In a statement, Mullen praised the appointments of Dempsey and Winnefeld.
"Both men are extraordinary leaders, who will provide the Secretary of Defense and the President not only their best military advice, but also the great benefit of their decades of military experience and their command in combat operations.
"I know, too, that they will represent faithfully and stridently the 2.2 million men and women in uniform, as well as their families."
Obama called Dempsey "one of our nation's most respected and combat-tested generals."
Dempsey, 59, was sworn in April 11, replacing Gen. George Casey Jr., who served four years as chief of staff. Dempsey had been commander of Training and Doctrine Command. Obama also joked about Dempsey's short term as Army chief, saying "your tenure as chief may go down as one of the shortest in Army history."
Dempsey's family has deep Army roots; all three of Dempsey's children have served in the Army, and Maj. Christopher Dempsey is currently on active duty.
Winnefeld will replace U.S. Marine Gen. James "Hoss" Cartwright, current service vice chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. For months Cartwright had been considered the front runner to replace Mullen.
"Sandy knows we have to be prepared for the full range of challenges," Obama said.
Moving Dempsey up left an opening for the U.S. Army chief job, one that Obama said would be filled by the former top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno.
Dempsey leaves the Army at a time of significant transition - and a time when nearly half the service's four-star generals are at or nearing retirement.
Dempsey was chosen over Cartwright, who was often called Obama's favorite general and considered the front-runner to replace Mullen.
Obama praised Cartwright saying "I've also benefitted from the advice and counsel of Hoss Cartwright. I'll always be personally grateful to Hoss for his friendship and partnership."
Cartwright's management style has met increasing criticism, and a Pentagon investigation into claims of misconduct with a young female aide hurt his chances. The Pentagon's inspector general cleared Cartwright of the most serious claims, which suggested he'd had an improper relationship with the woman. But the investigation found that he mishandled an incident in which the aide was drunk and either passed out or fell asleep in his hotel room, where he was working, as his security personnel stood nearby.
Dempsey has significant combat experience. He served two tours in Iraq and served as acting commander of Central Command.
Dempsey's appointment as Joint Chiefs chairman, along with the appointment of Gen. David Petraeus to head the CIA, would put combat vets at the top of national security chain. Despite 10 years at war, a soldier has not served in the military's top position since U.S. Army Gen. Hugh Shelton retired in 2001.
Dempsey's replacement, Odierno, took the helm at U.S. Joint Forces Command on Oct. 29, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates had already decided to close the $1 billion command in less than a year - and promised Odierno a better job to follow.
Insiders say Odierno was neck-and-neck with Dempsey for the Army chief's spot earlier this year. He led forces in Iraq from September 2008 to September 2010 and the Multi-National Corps in Iraq from December 2006 to February 2008. The field artillery officer is most noted as the operational architect of the 2007 surge that significantly reduced violence in Iraq, and contributed greatly to the subsequent drawdown of U.S. forces there.
The leadership changes come at a time when many of the Army's top officers are growing long in the tooth.
There currently are 12 four-star generals on the books, not including Dempsey. Four are entering retirement: Casey, Petraeus, Gen. Walter Sharp and Gen. William Ward. Four of the remaining eight have a 2008 date-of-rank: Chiarelli, Odierno, Gen. Ann Dunwoody and Gen. Carter Ham.
Like Gens. James Thurman and Lloyd Austin, Gen. Keith Alexander was promoted in 2010. Gen. Robert Cone received his fourth star this year.
U.S. Army's change of plans
Dempsey's promotion will likely cause a delay in the forthcoming roadmap to the future.Dempsey planned to unveil his modernization plan to build the Army of 2020 on the Army's birthday in mid-June. That Army that will look different from today's Army in many ways, he said.
Most analysts agree that Dempsey now will likely withhold those details to allow the next chief to pen his own plan.
No matter who signs his name on the dotted line, the plans would likely address many of the same issues.
Topping that list is a plan to cut 22,000 active-duty soldiers by the end of 2013, and a combined 27,000 in 2015 and 2016. The Obama administration plans to cut another $400 billion from the defense budget, and there are many questions regarding whether troops will be cut to provide some of those savings.
There also is the push to add a third battalion to Brigade Combat Teams, the need to rightly balance heavy and light forces and the integration of the Guard and Reserve.
But arguably the biggest burden resting on the next chief is the need to overhaul the way requirements become procurement
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