General Martin E. Dempsey serves as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity, he serves as the principal military adviser to the President, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. By law, he is the nation’s highest-ranking military officer. Prior to becoming Chairman, the general served as the Army’s 37th Chief of Staff. Past assignments have taken him and his family across the globe during both peace and war from Platoon Leader to Combatant Commander. He is a 1974 graduate of the United States Military Academy and a career armor officer. As a company grade officer, he served with the 2nd Cavalry in United States Army Europe and with the 10th Cavalry at Fort Carson. Following troop command he earned his Masters of Arts in English from Duke University and was assigned to the English Department at West Point.
In 1991, GEN Dempsey deployed with the Third Armored Division in support of OPERATION DESERT STORM. Following DESERT STORM, he commanded 4th Battalion 67th Armor (Bandits) in Germany for two years and then departed to become Armor Branch Chief in US Army Personnel Command. From 1996-1998 he served as the 67th Colonel of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment. Following this assignment as the Army’s “senior scout” he served on the Joint Staff as an Assistant Deputy Director in J-5 and as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
General Dempsey’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star with “V” Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. In addition to his Masters’ Degree in English, he holds Masters’ Degrees in Military Art and in National Security Studies.
General Dempsey and his high school sweetheart Deanie have three children: Chris, Megan, and Caitlin. Each has served in the United States Army. Chris remains on active duty. They have five wonderful grandchildren: Kayla, Mackenna and Finley by Chris and daughter-in-law Julie, Luke by Caitlin and son-in-law Shane, and Alexander and Hunter by Megan and son-in-law Kory. Caitlin and Shane are expecting their second child next spring.
General Martin E. Dempsey assumed duty as the Army’s 37th Chief of GENERAL MARTIN E. DEMPSEY
Past assignments have taken him and his family across the country and world both during peace and times of war from the platoon to the Combatant Command level. Following graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1974, General Dempsey received his commission as an Armor Officer. As a company grade officer, GEN Dempsey served with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in United States Army Europe and with the 10th Cavalry at Fort Carson.
Following troop command he earned his Masters of Arts in English from Duke University and was subsequently assigned to the English Department at West Point where he served as an instructor and Assistant Professor. GEN Dempsey has also earned Masters Degrees from the Command and General Staff College (1987) and National War College (1995).
In 1991, GEN Dempsey deployed with the Third Armored Division in support of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM. He then served in Human Resources Command as the Armor Branch Chief and from 1996-1998 as the 67th Colonel of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment. Following command he served on the Joint Staff as an Assistant Deputy Director in J-5 and as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.st Armored Division in Baghdad, Iraq. After 14 months in Iraq, General Dempsey redeployed the division to Germany and completed his command tour in July of 2005.
From September 2001 to June 2003, General Dempsey served in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a training and advisory role as the Program Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program. In June of 2003, General Dempsey took command of the 1
He then deployed to Iraq again for two years in August of 2005 to train and equip the Iraqi Security Forces as Commanding General of MNSTC-I. From August 2007 through October 2008, GEN Dempsey served as the Deputy Commander and then Acting Commander of U.S. Central Command. Most recently he commanded US Army Training and Doctrine Command.
General Dempsey and his high school sweetheart and wife Deanie have three children: Chris, Megan, and Caitlin. Each has served in the United States Army. Chris remains on active duty.
They have three wonderful grandchildren: Kayla and Mackenna by Chris and daughter-in-law Julie, and Luke by Caitlin and son-in-law Shane. Megan and her husband Kory are expecting twins this summer.
General Dempsey’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star with “V” Device, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
Chief of Staff UNITED STATES ARMY
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