Martin “Marty” Edward Dempsey (born March 14, 1952), is a retired United States Armygeneral who served as the 18th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 2011 until September 25, 2015, his ceremonial last day (de facto); in actuality, his last day was September 30, 2015 (de jure).[1] He previously served as the 37th chief of Staff of the Army from April 11, 2011, to September 7, 2011. Before that, he served as Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, from December 8, 2008, to April 11, 2011, as Acting Commander, U.S. Central Command, from March 24, 2008, to October 30, 2008, as Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command, from August 2007 to March 23, 2008, and as Commanding General, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I), from August 2005 to August 2007. Dempsey assumed his assignment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, 2011 and stepped down from the Chairmanship on September 25, 2015.[2][3] He has served as a professor at Duke University and as chairman of USA Basketball.[4][5]
Brigadier General Dempsey, commander, 1st Armored Division, gives a few remarks to the Iraqis who served during previous wars in Iraq at a recognition ceremony held in the Convention Center in Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004.
In June 2003, then Major General Dempsey assumed command of the 1st Armored Division. He succeeded Ricardo S. Sanchez who was promoted to lieutenant general, as commander of V Corps. Dempsey's command of the 1st Armored Division lasted until July 2005 and included 13 months in Iraq, from June 2003 to July 2004. While in Iraq, 1st Armored Division, in addition to its own brigades, had operational command over the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division; the command, called "Task Force Iron" in recognition of the Division's nickname, "Old Ironsides", was the largest division-level command in the history of the United States Army.[14]
It was during this time that the U.S. intervention in Iraq changed dramatically as Fallujah fell to Sunni extremists and supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr built their strength and rose against American forces. Then Major General Dempsey and his command assumed responsibility for the area of operations in Baghdad as the insurgency incubated, grew, and exploded. General Dempsey has been described by Thomas Ricks in his book "Fiasco": "In the capital itself, the 1st Armored Division, after Sanchez assumed control of V Corps, was led by Maj. Gen. Martin Dempsey, was generally seen as handling a difficult (and inherited) job well, under the global spotlight of Baghdad."
On March 27, 2007, Lieutenant General Dempsey was transferred from commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, and reassigned as deputy commander of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
On March 11, 2008, Dempsey's commander, Admiral William J. Fallon, resigned from his post as commander of Central Command. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates accepted this as effective on March 31. Dempsey temporarily took over as acting commander.
On March 13, 2008, Dempsey was confirmed by the United States Senate as Commander, U.S. Army, Europe/Seventh Army.[15] However, due, to Admiral Fallon's unexpected retirement, Dempsey never took command of U.S. Army, Europe/Seventh Army.
On July 11, 2008, Dempsey was nominated to take command of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command while Lieutenant General Carter F. Ham replaced his nomination to command the U.S. Army, Europe/Seventh Army.[16]
Retiring Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, right, administers the oath of office to his successor, General Dempsey, left, during the change of office and swearing-in ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia, September 30, 2011.
On January 6, 2011, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that he would recommend that the President nominate General Dempsey to succeed General George Casey as the Army Chief of Staff.[18] On February 8, 2011, Gates announced that President Barack Obama nominated Dempsey to be the 37th Chief of Staff of the United States Army.[19] On March 3, 2011, Dempsey testified before the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services,[20] and on March 15, 2011, the committee affirmatively reported Dempsey's nomination.[21] On March 16, 2011, the Senate confirmed Dempsey's nomination by unanimous consent.[22] On April 11, 2011, Dempsey was sworn in as Chief of Staff of the United States Army at a ceremony at Fort Myer.
With AdmiralMichael Mullen set to retire as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September 2011, U.S. President Obama needed to select his replacement. The vice-chairman, Marine General James Cartwright, who was initially believed to be the front runner for the job, had fallen out of favor among senior officials in the Defense Department. Obama administration officials revealed on May 26, 2011, that the President would nominate Dempsey to the post of chairman.[23] In August 2011, General Dempsey was confirmed by unanimous consent to succeed Admiral Mike Mullen as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was sworn in as 18th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, 2011. On June 26, 2013, President Barack Obama re-nominated General Dempsey to serve a second two-year term as chairman.[24] Dempsey stepped down on September 25, 2015, and was replaced by General Joseph Dunford, USMC.
Dempsey was appointed as the chairman of USA Basketball for a term between 2017 and 2020, and is an NBA representative.[5]
On October 18, 2020, Dempsey was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, in the Public Service category.[25]
Personal life
Dempsey is married to his high school sweetheart, Deanie.[26] They have three children: Chris, Megan, and Caitlin. Each has served in the United States Army and is married with three children. Chris remains on active duty as a cavalry colonel. Martin and Deanie have nine grandchildren.[27]
Martin Dempsey's wife Deanie, right, and son, Captain Chris Dempsey, add the new four-star rank insignia to his uniform during his promotion ceremony on Fort Monroe, Virginia, December 8, 2008.
Awards and decorations
On December 7, 2011, Dempsey received the USO's Distinguished Service Award on behalf of all military members.[28] In October 2016, he was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, for commitment to British-American defense cooperation.[29] Also, the Association of the United States Army, on October 17, 2019 awarded Dempsey the George Catlett Marshall Medal for distinguished public service, that organization's highest award.[30]
Win, Learn, Focus, Adapt, Win Again – Article series for Army Magazine (AUSA). October 2010 – February 2011
Inspired and humbled by the sacrifice of our troops – The Hill, May 24, 2011
From the Chairman – Joint Force Quarterly no. 64. January 2012
From the Chairman – Joint Force Quarterly no. 65. April 2012
Preserving the bonds of trust – The Hill, May 22, 2012
From the Chairman – Joint Force Quarterly no. 66. July 2012
From the Chairman: Building Tomorrow's Leaders – Joint Force Quarterly no. 67. October 2012
From the Chairman: Sustaining our Edge – Joint Force Quarterly no. 68. January 2013
From the Chairman: Risky Business – Joint Force Quarterly no. 69. April 2013
Remember and uphold tradition – The Hill, May 21, 2013
From the Chairman: Why We Serve – Joint Force Quarterly no. 70. July 2013
From the Chairman: Leadership in Historic Times – Joint Force Quarterly no. 71. October 2013
From the Chairman: Mount Up and Move Out – Joint Force Quarterly no. 72. January 2014
Interviews
Dempsey Muses on Challenges as New Head of Joint Chiefs – Thom Shanker. New York Times. Oct 3, 2011.
The New Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on "Getting to the Truth" – Karl Moore. Forbes Magazine. Oct 20, 2011.
Gen. Martin Dempsey's Interview with Jeremy Paxman – Jeremy Paxman, BBC. Nov 28, 2011.
Transcript: Gen. Martin Dempsey's Interview with Fareed Zakaria – Fareed Zakaria. CNN. Feb 19, 2012.
Video: Gen. Martin Dempsey's Interview with Charlie Rose – Charlie Rose. Mar 16, 2012.
Video: Gen. Martin Dempsey's Interview on Leadership – The Pentagon Channel. October 2012.
Video: Gen. Martin Dempsey at the National Press Club – National Press Club. October 10, 2012.
Transcript: Gen. Martin Dempsey talks to Dan Rather – Dan Rather Reports. AXS.tv. November 13, 2012.
Transcript: Gen. Martin Dempsey talks to Ted Koppel – Rock Center with Brian Williams. NBC. January 24, 2013.
Transcript: Sec. Panetta & Gen. Dempsey's Interview with Candy Crowley – State of the Union. CNN. February 3, 2013.
Transcript: Sec. Panetta & Gen. Dempsey's Interview with Chuck Todd – Meet the Press. NBC. February 3, 2013.
Transcript: Gen. Martin Dempsey talks to Rachel Martin – Weekend Edition. NPR. February 17, 2013.
Transcript: Gen. Martin Dempsey talks to Candy Crowley – State of the Union. CNN. July 7, 2013.
Transcript: Gen. Martin Dempsey talks to Martha Raddatz – This Week. ABC. August 4, 2013.
Transcript: Gen. Martin Dempsey talks to Steve Inskeep - NPR. Morning Edition. June 4, 2020.
Speeches
Gen. Dempsey Becomes the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – September 30, 2011
The Atlantic Council of the United States: Security and Partnership in an Age of Austerity – December 9, 2011.
End of Mission Ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq – December 15, 2011.
Duke University's Ambassador S. Davis Phillips Family International Lecture Series: A New Vision for the US Military – January 12, 2012.
West Point Class of 2013 500th Night – January 21, 2012.
Harvard University's John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum: Security Paradox – April 12, 2012.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A Conversation with General Martin Dempsey – May 1, 2012.
Kansas State University's 161st Landon Lecture – October 1, 2012
References
^"18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – General Martin Edward Dempsey". jcs.mil. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
^By law, 10 USC 152, Dempsey assumed office on October 1.
^"General Dempsey retires, transitions Joint Chiefs of Staff chair". upi.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^"Gen. Martin Dempsey Named 2016 Rubenstein Fellow at Duke". October 2015.
^ a b"Board". www.usab.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
^"Bayonne's Gen. Dempsey named one of world's most influential: Time Magazine", The Jersey Journal, April 17, 2015, updated January 17, 2019. Accessed February 1, 2022. "Army General Martin E. Dempsey, who was born in Jersey City and grew up in Bayonne, made Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, a group that includes Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Pope Francis and celebrity Kim Kardashian."
^Sestanovich, Stephen (May 6, 2015). "Barack 'O'Bama' and His Irish-American Advisers". wsj.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^"US President's chief military adviser gives exclusive interview". rte.ie. August 31, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^"Irish American General Martin Demspey to become new head of Joint Chiefs of Staff". irishcentral.com. May 28, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^"Ireland of Welcomes Talks to General Dempsey". Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
^"Donegal Man Is Appointed Chief Of The American Army". Donegal Daily. March 26, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
^Baron, Kevin, "Gen. Martin Dempsey: The Quiet American", National Journal, February 11, 2012.
^ a b"Joint Chiefs of Staff > About > The Joint Staff > Chairman > General Martin Edward Dempsey". www.jcs.mil. Retrieved December 8, 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^"Iron Soldiers: Mission complete" (PDF). 1st Armored Division Public Affairs. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
^"U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Nominations Confirmed (Non-Civilian)". Senate.gov. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
^"General Officer Announcements". Defense.gov. July 11, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
^Tice, Jim (December 8, 2008). "Dempsey takes command of TRADOC". Army Times. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
^Bacon, Lance (January 6, 2011). "TRADOC head is pick to become chief of staff". Army Times. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
^"General Officer Announcements". Department of Defense. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
^Brannen, Kate (March 15, 2011). "Sen. committee confirms Dempsey as Army chief". Army Times. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
^"Congress.gov – Library of Congress". thomas.loc.gov. Archived from the original on July 4, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
^Starr, Barbara (May 26, 2011). "Obama to choose Army head as next Joint Chiefs chairman, officials say". CNN. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
^White House Press Secretary (June 26, 2013). "Statement by the President on Intention to Renominate General Marty Dempsey as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Admiral Sandy Winnefeld as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff". whitehouse.gov – via National Archives.
^"2020 NJ Hall of Fame". www.nj.com. October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
^"Official Biography of 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin E. Dempsey" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2012.
^"General Martin E. Dempsey Chairman". US DOD Joint Chiefs of Staff. April 2015. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
^Miles, Donna (December 8, 2011). "Dempsey Accepts USO Award on Behalf of Military Members". Armed Forces Press Service. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
^"Irish speaking, all-singing US Army general Martin Dempsey made honorary knight in Britain – Irish Post". Irish Post. October 18, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
^"FORMER JCS CHAIRMAN DEMPSEY RECEIVES MARSHALL MEDAL". October 7, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
^"US Army's Most Powerful Man Receives Order of Duke in Croatia". Croatia Week. September 22, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
^"Dempsey receives Legion of Honor, Commander's degree, in 2014".
^"Dempsey receives Federal German Award, KCC of the Order of Merit".
^"DEMPSEY MEETS WITH ISRAELI LEADERS, RECEIVES AWARD". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
^"Retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is knighted". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
^"外国人叙勲受章者名簿 平成27年". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
^News, Idaho Falls. "Idaho Falls Spokesperson – About Page". idfspokesperson.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^"US CJCS Gen. Martin Dempsey Visits Yad VaShem". flickr.com. January 20, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Martin E. Dempsey.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Martin Dempsey.
Official website
Military biography
Chairman's Corner Archived September 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine