Blake Hall
photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps
Marine General Joseph Dunford, Jr., a highly-regarded military mind and combat leader who led the Afghanistan war coalition during an extremely pivotal time, will be President Barack Obama’s nomination to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — according to officials in Washington Monday.
A four-star general who was a one star general just three years ago, Dunford will leave his post as commandant of the United States Marine Corps, a title he garnered this past October.
The Boston native began his “fast-track” career as an infantry officer, and earned the nickname “Fighting Joe” after serving almost two years in Iraq as head of the Marines’ Fifth Regimental Combat Team during the 2003 invasion.
This from the Associated Press:
Officials also said Obama is tapping Gen. Paul J. Selva, a top Air Force officer and pilot, to serve as vice chairman. Selva, who has clocked more than 3,100 hours piloting transport and refueling aircraft, is currently the head of U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
Obama plans to make the announcement at the White House Tuesday, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly ahead of the announcement. Dunford is expected to be easily confirmed by the U.S. Senate and would succeed Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who will have served four years as chairman.