WASHINGTON, May 30 (UPI) -- On the day honoring the nation's war dead, U.S. President Obama tapped Gen. Martin Dempsey to succeed Adm. Mike Mullen as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In remarks at the White House Rose Garden, Obama also nominated Adm. James Winnefeld Jr. as Dempsey's vice chairman and selected Gen. Ray Odierno to be the Army chief of staff. Mullen is retiring when his term ends Sept. 30.
"The men and women of our armed forces are the best our nation has to offer, and they deserve nothing but the absolute best in return. And that includes leaders who will guide them, and support their families, with wisdom and strength and compassion," Obama said. "I found these qualities in the leaders who will complete our team at the Pentagon and whom I'm proud to announce today … ."
Dempsey commanded 20,000 troops during two tours in Iraq. Winnefeld is commander of U.S. Northern command. Odierno commanded troops in Iraq from 2008 to 2010.
Obama last month announced CIA Director Leon Panetta as his choice to succeed Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Obama said he selected Dempsey and Winnefeld because of their record and because "they will make an extraordinary team."
"Between them, they bring deep experience in virtually every domain -- land, air, space, sea, cyber," Obama said. "Both of them have the respect and the trust of our troops on the front lines, our friends in Congress, and allies and partners abroad. And both of them have my full confidence."
Odierno "understands what the Army must do to prevail in today's wars, to prepare for the future, and to preserve the readiness of the soldiers and families who are the strength of America's families," Obama said, urging the Senate to confirm the three appointments quickly.
Gates said he "enthusiastically" supports Obama's choices to fill the three military leadership positions.
All have "excelled in key command and staff roles within their services and in the joint arena," Gates said in a statement. "They possess the right mix of intellectual heft, moral courage and strategic vision required to provide sound and candid advice to the president and his national security team."
