Mark Welsh
Mark A. Welsh III | |
|---|---|
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| Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service | |
| Assumed office August 15, 2016 | |
| 20th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force | |
| In office August 2012 – June 2016 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Norton A. Schwartz |
| Succeeded by | David L. Goldfein |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 26, 1953 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | United States Air Force Academy |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal (2) Full list |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1976-2016 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | - 20th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force - Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Commander of Allied Air Command Ramstein - Associate Director for Military Affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency - Vice Commander of Air Education and Training Command - Deputy Commander of Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance - Commandant of Cadets, United States Air Force Academy - Commander, 8th Fighter Wing - Commander, 347th Operations Group (later redesignated 347th Rescue Group) - Commander, 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron (later redesignated 4th Fighter Squadron) |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War Global War on Terror |
Mark Anthony Welsh III (born January 26, 1953) is Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University and a retired United States Air Force four-star general. Prior to his current role, he served as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate. Prior to that, General Welsh served as Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as the Associate Director for Military Affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency, and as the Vice Commander of Air Education and Training Command. In earlier portions of his career, he served as a fighter pilot (primarily flying the F-16 and A-10 aircraft) and was a commander at the squadron, group and wing level, in addition to assignments in training, operations, intelligence and acquisitions. He also served as the Commandant of the United States Air Force Academy. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, and entered the Air Force in June 1976 as a graduate of the Air Force Academy.
Military career[]
Welsh's military career culminated in achieving the rank of general (four stars) and serving as the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was appointed by President Barack Obama in May 2012, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee in July 2012 and was confirmed shortly thereafter by the United States Senate.[1] Welsh completed the customary four-year term for a "service chief," retiring in July 2016 after more than 40 years of military service.[2]
During his tenure as a service chief, Welsh "wore two hats" as is customary for the role. As the chief of a military service, he was the senior-ranking uniformed officer within the service, responsible for the organizing, training and equipping of over 600,000 Air Force personnel, as well as related budgeting and planning functions, liaison with other services and agencies, and interaction with legislators and policymakers. Separately, as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he offered advice to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.[2]
Prior to his final assignment in Washington, Welsh served as the 34th Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Commander, Allied Air Command Ramstein, Germany, and Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center at Kalkar, Germany. He was responsible for Air Force activities, conducted through 3rd Air Force, in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe. This area includes 51 countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans with a total population reaching nearly one billion people speaking more than 80 languages. He also had administrative control of 17th Air Force, providing support, logistics and resources to U.S. Africa Command.[1]
Welsh previously served as Associate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for Military Support and Associate Director for Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C. As the ADMA, he served as the principal advisor to the Director of the CIA on military matters and was the primary bridge between the CIA and the Department of Defense for the coordination and planning of military and interagency operations. Additionally, he assisted in the formulation of CIA policies regarding military affairs, managed the provision of direct support to deployed forces, and oversaw the Director of CIA representation at the combatant commands and senior service schools.
Prior to his role at the CIA, Welsh served as the Vice Commander of Air Education and Training Command, a major command of the Air Force responsible for the provision of training and professional education throughout the organization, comprising over 60,000 educators, researchers and related personnel across 12 major installations (schools).[3]
In earlier portions of his military career, Welsh was rated as a command pilot with extensive flying experience in fighter aircraft including the F-16 and the A-10. As an active fighter pilot, he was selected for command positions at the squadron, group and wing level, before progressing into more senior leadership roles.[1]
Civilian Career[]
Following his retirement from the military in 2016, Welsh was named Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Although Welsh's alma mater is the United States Air Force Academy and he did not attend Texas A&M, he has a decades-long affinity for the university due to his father, children and various other family members attending the university.[4]
On December 8, 2016, Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that it elected Welsh to its board of directors.[5]
Awards and decorations[]
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- In 2016, Welsh was named an honorary Tuskegee Airman. Also in 2016, on April 22, Welsh was inducted into the Order of the Sword, the highest honor bestowed on an officer by the Air Force enlisted corps.
Effective dates of promotion[]
United States Air Force Academy Cadet – Class of 1976
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
|---|---|---|
 |
General | Dec. 13, 2010 |
 |
Lieutenant general | Dec. 9, 2008 |
 |
Major general | Aug. 1, 2003 |
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Brigadier general | Aug. 1, 2000 |
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Colonel | Feb. 1, 1994 |
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Lieutenant colonel | June 1, 1989 |
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Major | May 1, 1985 |
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Captain | June 2, 1980 |
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First lieutenant | June 2, 1978 |
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Second lieutenant | June 2, 1976 |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c "General Mark A. Welsh III". Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ a b "About the Service Chiefs".
- ^ "Air Education and Training Command".
- ^ "Donor Impact Stories".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Northrop Grumman Elects Mark A. Welsh III to its Board of Directors". Northrop Grumman Newsroom. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "El Libro Cronológico del Sistema de Cooperación entre las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas" (PDF). SICOFAA. 2015. p. 37. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document: "http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7550".
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mark A. Welsh III. |
- Speech at the U.S. Air Force Academy, November 1, 2011 on YouTube
- Culbert, A1C Alexa (April 27, 2016). "Enlisted corps bestows highest honor upon Welsh". Air Force News Service. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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- 1953 births
- Harvard Kennedy School alumni
- Living people
- Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Air Medal
- Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- United States Air Force Academy alumni
- United States Air Force generals
- Chiefs of Staff of the United States Air Force
- Webster University alumni
- Wentworth Military Academy and College alumni
- Texas A&M University faculty