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On December 8, 2016, Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that it elected Welsh to its board of directors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Northrop Grumman Elects Mark A. Welsh III to its Board of Directors|url=https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-elects-mark-a-welsh-iii-to-its-board-of-directors|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Northrop Grumman Newsroom|language=en}}</ref>
On December 8, 2016, Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that it elected Welsh to its board of directors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Northrop Grumman Elects Mark A. Welsh III to its Board of Directors|url=https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-elects-mark-a-welsh-iii-to-its-board-of-directors|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Northrop Grumman Newsroom|language=en}}</ref>

On July 21, 2023, Welsh was named interim president of [[Texas A&M University]] following the resignation of [[M. Katherine Banks|M. Katherine Banks.]] <ref>{{Cite web |last=McGee |first=Kate |date=2023-07-21 |title=Texas A&M President Katherine Banks resigns amid fallout from failed hiring of journalism professor |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/21/tamu-president-resign-journalism/ |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref>


==Awards and decorations==
==Awards and decorations==

Revision as of 14:02, 21 July 2023

Mark A. Welsh III
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
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byNorton A. Schwartz
Succeeded byDavid L. Goldfein
Personal details
Born (1953-01-26) January 26, 1953 (age 71)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Alma materUnited States Air Force Academy
AwardsDefense 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 service1976–2016
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/warsGulf War
Global War on Terror

Mark Anthony Welsh III (born January 26, 1953) is acting president of Texas A&M University[1], 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.[2] Welsh completed the customary four-year term for a "service chief," retiring in July 2016 after more than 40 years of military service.[3]

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.[3]

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.[2]

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).[4]

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody, right, presents the Order of the Sword to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, left, April 22, 2016. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor the enlisted corps can bestow to an individual. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

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.[2]

Civilian career

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta speaks with Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and his wife, Betty, at the ceremony where Welsh was sworn in as the 20th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, MD, Aug. 10, 2012. Department of Defense Image 120810-D-TT977-035. Credit: Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

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.[5]

On December 8, 2016, Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that it elected Welsh to its board of directors.[6]

On July 21, 2023, Welsh was named interim president of Texas A&M University following the resignation of M. Katherine Banks. [7]

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges
Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges. Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Unit awards
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
Service Awards
Combat Readiness Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Campaign and service medals
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
Bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service Award (second ribbon to denote tenth award)
Bronze star
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze service star
Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
Legion of Honour, Knight (France)
SICOFAA Legion of Merit, Grand Cross[8]
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Other accoutrements
Command Air Force Pilot Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge
  • 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
Brigadier general Aug. 1, 2000
Colonel Feb. 1, 1994
Lieutenant colonel June 1, 1989
Major May 1, 1985
Captain June 2, 1980
First lieutenant June 2, 1978
Second lieutenant June 2, 1976


See also

References

  1. ^ "Click2Houston.com".
  2. ^ a b c "General Mark A. Welsh III". Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "About the Service Chiefs".
  4. ^ "Air Education and Training Command".
  5. ^ "Donor Impact Stories".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Northrop Grumman Elects Mark A. Welsh III to its Board of Directors". Northrop Grumman Newsroom. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  7. ^ McGee, Kate (July 21, 2023). "Texas A&M President Katherine Banks resigns amid fallout from failed hiring of journalism professor". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "El Libro Cronológico del Sistema de Cooperación entre las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas" (PDF). SICOFAA. 2015. p. 37. Retrieved March 6, 2020.

http://www.airn.nato.int/

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force

Military offices
Preceded by Commander of United States Air Forces in Europe
2010–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Staff of the Air Force
2012–2016
Succeeded by