The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
President Obama nominates a new Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman and Vice Chairman.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks announcing Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. as the nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Gen. Paul J. Selva, far right, as the nominee for Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the Rose Garden of the White House, May 5, 2015. National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Vice President Joe Biden participate. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
This afternoon, President Obama nominated Marine General Joseph Dunford to succeed Gen. Martin Dempsey as the next Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman – the principal military advisor to the President and his national security team.
Gen. Dunford served as the Commander of American and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan in 2013 and 2014, and now serves as the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. President Obama called Gen. Dunford one of the “most admired officers in our military,” and someone whose decision-making he trusts.
"Under his steady hand, we've achieved key milestones, including the transition to Afghan responsibility for security, historic Afghan elections, and the drawdown of U.S. forces."
— President Obama on Gen. Joe Dunford
Being a Chicago White Sox fan, President Obama quipped today that the only downside of Gen. Dunford's nomination was that there would now be another Red Sox fan in the Administration.
The President also nominated Air Force General Paul Selva as the next Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Selva currently serves as the head of U.S. Transportation Command -- the organization tasked with managing air, land, and sea military transportation -- and is a top Air Force officer and pilot. Previously the leader of Air Mobility Command, Gen. Selva has more than 35 years of military service, as both a pilot and commander, and is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Gen. Selva is succeeding the previous Vice Chairman, Adm. Sandy Winnefeld.
"To Joe, to Paul, to your families, on behalf of the American people, thank you for your continued service to our nation."
— President Obama on Generals Joe Dunford and Paul Selva
See President Obama’s full remarks from the Rose Garden here.
