Mark Anthony Welsh, III

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Welsh

Mark Anthony Welsh III (born January 26, 1953) is a United States Air Force officer who is serving as the 20th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, and entered the United States Air Force in June 1976 as a graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He retired after over 40 years of service on July 1, 2016.

Military career

Prior to his current assignment, he 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, from December 13, 2010, to July 31, 2012. 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.

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., from August 2008 to December 2010. 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.

In May 2012, Welsh was nominated by President Barack Obama to be the next Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. On July 19, 2012, Welsh testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and was sworn in as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force in August 2012.

In 2013, Welsh said that the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II could not be expected to survive in future combat so should be retired in favor of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, which he also said could not be expected to survive in future combat. Welsh believes that the USAF accomplishes the CAS mission "better than anyone" actually does.