President Obama on Tuesday nominated Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford to replace Army Gen. Martin Dempsey as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Air Force Gen. Paul Selva to replace Adm. James Winnefeld as vice chairman. Throughout his nearly 40 years in uniform, Dunford has held command positions at every level. He led Marines during the initial invasion of Iraq, and he led American and coalition forces in Afghanistan as combat operations came to a close. “I have been extraordinarily impressed by Joe, from the Situation Room, where he helped to shape our enduring commitment to Afghanistan, to my visit last year to Bagram, where I saw his leadership firsthand,” said Obama. “He’s already proven his ability to give me his unvarnished military advice based on his experience on the ground.” Selva brings 35 years of military experience as both a pilot and commander. “As leader of Air Mobility Command, he earned a reputation as a force for change and innovation,” said Obama. As head of US Transportation Command, “he’s been committed to the partnerships that are a core principle of our national security strategy,” he added. The Senate must still approve the nominations. (Obama transcript)
NASA Boss: Race to Moon Has National Security Stakes
Sept. 15, 2026
NASA is pushing hard to get astronauts back to the moon by 2028—and the urgency is driven in no small part by the national security implications of doing so before China does, Administrator Jared Isaacman said Sept. 15.
