Washington: US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he wasnominating Army chief of staff General Mark Milley as his next top militaryadvisor.
Milley, a four-star general who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, wouldreplace General Joseph Dunford as the military’s next chairman of the JointChiefs of Staff.
Dunford is scheduled to retire in October 2019 at the end of his secondtwo-year term.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is made up of the heads of the Air Force, Army,Marine Corps, Navy and National Guard.
“I am thankful to both of these incredible men for their service to ourCountry! Date of transition to be determined,” Trump said on Twitter.
linkDonald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrumplinklink
I am pleased to announce my nomination of four-star General Mark Milley,Chief of Staff of the United States Army – as the Chairman of the JointChiefs of Staff, replacing General Joe Dunford, who will be retiring….7:19 PM – Dec 8, 2018link
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Milley must be confirmed by the US Senate.
Trump announced his picks for a new attorney general and a new UNambassador on Friday and initially suggested he might make the militaryannouncement at Saturday’s annual Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia.
The game features cadets from the Naval Academy against their counterpartsfrom the US Military Academy and is often attended by the president.
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But he opted to announce the news on Twitter before heading to the game.
linkDonald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrumplink · 1h linklink
I am pleased to announce my nomination of four-star General Mark Milley,Chief of Staff of the United States Army – as the Chairman of the JointChiefs of Staff, replacing General Joe Dunford, who will be retiring….
linkDonald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrumplink
….I am thankful to both of these incredible men for their service to ourCountry! Date of transition to be determined.7:19 PM – Dec 8, 2018link
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Milley, 60, is a graduate of Princeton University.
According to several US media outlets, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis favoredAir Force General David Goldfein, in keeping with a tradition of rotatingthe post among the services, but Trump preferred Milley.
Dunford is a Marine Corps general. There has not been an Air Force officerin the chairman’s post since 2005.
