Obama chooses Navy general for top US military post

President Barack Obama nominates a respected, combat-hardened commander for the top US military job to lead the services during a key period of transition.

Obama chose Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to succeed Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who has served four years in the post.

“I know Joe, I trust him,” Obama says. “He has already proven his ability to give me his unvarnished military advice based on his experience on the ground.”

He is well connected internationally, often meeting with NATO and other coalition leaders, particularly during his Afghanistan command.

Obama made the announcement at the White House Tuesday. Dunford is expected to be easily confirmed by the US Senate.

Dunford’s selection signals that, even as the US puts more focus on Asia and looks ahead to high-tech cyber and space threats, the administration still believes a strong ground force commander is needed to work through the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and across the Middle East and Africa.

Obama emphasizes Dunford’s role in moving the US to the end of combat operations in Afghanistan.

“Under his steady hand we’ve achieved key milestones, including the transition to Afghan responsibility for security, historic Afghan elections and the drawdown of US forces,” Obama says.

Obama praises Dunford as “one of our military’s most highly regarded strategic thinkers” and described his work ethic as tireless, noting that some aides have been known to carry a voice recorder to keep track of his commands and ideas.