Gen. Joseph Dunford

Panel: U.S. Began Afghanistan War with Unrealistic Expectations

U.S. Soldiers and contractors load High Mobility Multi-purposed Wheeled Vehicles, HUMVs, to be sent for transport in support of the Resolute Support retrograde mission in Afghanistan on July 13, 2020. US Army Photo

American expectations of what could be achieved in Afghanistan – like establishing a democracy by defeating al Qaeda and the Taliban – were too high, while the U.S.’s early focus on revenge and justice following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the homeland, two national...

https://news.usni.org/2021/07/08/panel-u-s-began-afghanistan-war-with-unrealistic-expectations

Esper Officially Nominated Lead Pentagon; SECNAV Spencer Now Acting SECDEF

Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Richard V. Spencer walks into his office at the Pentagon following the announcement of the nomination of Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper to Secretary of Defense by President Donald J. Trump on July 15, 2019 DoD photo.

Acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper was officially nominated Monday afternoon to assume the role permanently, setting off a chain reaction of position shifts inside the Pentagon’s civilian leadership.

Now that the Senate is considering his...

https://news.usni.org/2019/07/15/esper-officially-nominated-lead-pentagon-secnav-spencer-now-acting-secdef

Milley Details Vision as Next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Senate Panel

The 2019 Army Birthday Ball takes place in honor of the 244 Army Birthday at the Hilton in Washington, D.C., June 15, 2019. US Army Photo

For Army Gen. Mark Milley, nominee to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, upgrading and maintaining the nation’s nuclear triad ranks top of his priority list.

Milley, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, laid out his priorities and his vision for the military during the next four years if he’s confirmed to become...

https://news.usni.org/2019/07/11/milley-details-vision-as-next-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-of-staff-to-senate-panel

Joint Chiefs Chairman Says Iran Threat In Middle East Was Real

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. DoD Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, B-52 bombers and sophisticated air defense systems were rushed to the Middle East in early May because intelligence suggested an Iranian-led “campaign plan” taking shape to disrupt the region, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff said Wednesday.

Activities from Yemen to the Persian Gulf to Iraq were “more widespread” and linked than the threats that...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/30/joint-chiefs-chairman-says-iran-threat-in-middle-east-was-real

HASC Leaders Unconvinced by Pentagon’s Plan to Cut Aircraft Carrier

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Sept 22, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Defense Department’s first crack at convincing the House Armed Services Committee to retire an aircraft carrier early to support the development of future weapons systems and unmanned platforms was not well received.

Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford reiterated their pitch for not refueling USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) today – it will fund the...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/26/hasc-leaders-remain-unconvinced-of-pentagons-need-to-plan-for-carrier-retirement-in-2020-budget

Report to Congress on U.S. Policy Toward Afghanistan

The following is the Feb. 26, 2019 Congressional Research Service report, Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy In Brief.

From the report

Afghanistan has been a central U.S. foreign policy concern since 2001, when the United States, in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, led a military campaign against Al Qaeda and the Taliban government that harbored and supported it. In the intervening 17 years, the United States has suffered around 2,400 fatalities in Afghanistan...

https://news.usni.org/2019/02/27/report-congress-u-s-policy-toward-afghanistan

Dunford Brings USO Tour to Carrier Stennis in Persian Gulf

Country music artist Kellie Pickler and a U.S. Sailor perform a song together during a USO tour performance in the hangar bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Persian Gulf on Dec. 23, 2018.

USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is spending Christmas in the Persian Gulf and will be joined by America’s highest-ranking officer, an Olympic gold medalist, a country singer and Wilmar Valderrama, among others participating in a USO tour.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Joseph...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/24/gen-dunford-olympian-country-singer-actors-cross-fit-champ-join-stennis-crew-for-christmas-in-persian-gulf

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Milley Selected To Be Next Chairman of Joint Chiefs

    U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley speaks to Soldiers at Qayyarah Airfield West, Iraq, Dec. 22, 2017. U.S. Army photo

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley was selected by President Donald Trump to become the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s top-ranking military officer.

Milley, a 1980 graduate of Princeton University, will replace current Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, the current chairman, when he is scheduled to step down from the post in the fall of 2019...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/08/39478