Mark Welsh

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]

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 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]

The Bush School was created in 1997 in connection with the establishment of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on Texas A&M's flagship campus. The Bush School offers graduate degree programs for students aspiring to careers in public service, and houses faculty specializing in international affairs, international policy, public service, public administration, homeland security, nonprofit management, and related fields. The school operates under President George H.W. Bush’s philosophy that “public service is a noble calling" and has become a leading public and international affairs graduate institution.[6]

In May 2020 the Bush School announced it had established a teaching site in Washington, D.C. within walking distance of the White House and other key government buildings.[7]

1972 Wentworth Military Academy and College, Lexington, Missouri

1976 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado

1984 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence

1986 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

1987 Master of Science degree in computer resource management, Webster University

1988 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

1990 Air War College, by correspondence

1993 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

1995 Fellow, Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

1998 Fellow, National Security Studies Program, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

1999 Fellow, Ukrainian Security Studies, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

2002 The General Manager Program, Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

2009 Fellow, Pinnacle Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

2009 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colorado

1. August 1976 – July 1977, student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona
2. July 1977– January 1981, T-37 instructor pilot and class commander, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona
3. January 1981 – May 1981, student, fighter lead-in training, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
4. May 1981 – August 1981, student, A-10 training, Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
5. August 1981 – May 1984, instructor pilot, flight commander and wing standardization and evaluation flight examiner, 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, England
6. May 1984 – June 1987, Air Officer Commanding, Cadet Squadron 5, later, executive officer to the Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
7. June 1987 – June 1988, student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
8. June 1988 – October 1988, student, F-16 conversion training, Luke AFB, Arizona
9. October 1988 – July 1992, operations officer, 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron, later, Commander, 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
10. July 1992 – June 1993, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. June 1993 – June 1995, Chief, Defense and Space Operations Division, Operations Directorate (J3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. June 1995 – April 1997, Commander, 347th Operations Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
13. April 1997 – June 1998, Commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
14. June 1998 – June 1999, Commander, College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. June 1999 – September 2001, Commandant of Cadets and Commander, 34th Training Wing, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
16. September 2001 – April 2003, Director of Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
17. April 2003 – June 2005, Director of Global Power Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
18. June 2005 – June 2007, Deputy Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, U.S. Strategic Command, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
19. July 2007 – August 2008, Vice Commander, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas
20. August 2008 – December 2010, Associate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency for Military Support/Associate Director for Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
21. December 2010 – July 2012, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein; and Director, Joint Air Power Competency Center, Ramstein AB, Germany
22. August 2012 – June 2016, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.

1. June 1993 – June 1995, Chief, Defense and Space Operations Division, Operations Directorate (J3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel and a colonel
2. June 2005 – June 2007, Deputy Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, U.S. Strategic Command, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., as a major general
3. August 2008 – December 2010, Associate Director for Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C., as a major general and a lieutenant general
4. December 2010 – July 2012, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein; and Director, Joint Air Power Competency Center, Ramstein AB, Germany, as a general

Rating: Command pilot

Flight hours: More than 3,400

Aircraft flown: F-16, A-10, T-37 and TG-7A

Personal decorations Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters 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 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 National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars 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) 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.

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

• Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
• List of commanders of USAFE

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

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document: "http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7550".

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mark A. Welsh III.

• Speech at the U.S. Air Force Academy, November 1, 2011 on YouTube
• Culbert, A1C Alexa (April 27, 2016). "Enlisted corps bestows highest honor upon Welsh". Air Force News Service. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
• Appearances on C-SPAN