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Mark Anthony Welsh III (born January 26, 1953) is the 27th president of Texas A&M University,[2] former Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University and a retired United States Air Force four-star general. Prior to his current role, he served as 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 and confirmed by the United States Senate. Prior to that, General Welsh served as Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as the Associate Director for Military Affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency, and as the Vice Commander of Air Education and Training Command. In earlier portions of his career, he served as a fighter pilot (primarily flying the F-16 and A-10 aircraft) and was a commander at the squadron, group and wing level, in addition to assignments in training, operations, intelligence and acquisitions. He also served as the Commandant of the United States Air Force Academy. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, and entered the Air Force in June 1976 as a graduate of the Air Force Academy.
Military career
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.[3] Welsh completed the customary four-year term for a "service chief," retiring in July 2016 after more than 40 years of military service.[4]
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.[4]
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.[3] In 1994–1995, he attended MIT Seminar XXI.[5]
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).[6]
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.[3]
Civilian career
Dean of the Bush School
Following his retirement from the military in 2016, Welsh was named Dean of 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.[7][8][9]
On December 8, 2016, Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that it elected Welsh to its board of directors.[10]
President of Texas A&M University
On July 21, 2023, Welsh was named acting president of Texas A&M University by Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp following the resignation of M. Katherine Banks.[11][12] Sharp also recommended for Welsh to continue as interim president until a search could be made to find Banks’ successor.[13] He was named the interim president by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on July 30, 2023.[14]
In his first official communication to students and faculty, Welsh made an indirect reference to the events surrounding the resignation of the previous president, which had involved the mishandled hiring of the journalism professor Kathleen McElroy: [12]
"...living up to our core values is an ongoing commitment, as even esteemed institutions like ours must consistently confront and resolve challenges to uphold our status as a great university. Just to be clear on where I stand, I believe diversity in all its forms is a strength. I believe every Aggie must have a voice, that each of you is critically important to our success and that you deserve to be treated with respect. I think you also believe those things."[15]
On November 17, 2023, Welsh was named the sole finalist for the position of President of Texas A&M University.[16] He became the 27th president of Texas A&M University on December 12, 2023.[2]
Personal life
Welsh has four children with his wife Betty. Welsh has said that although he is not an Aggie, he considers himself one by association.[9] In a keynote address at the on-campus Muster ceremony in 2022, Welsh provided elaborate detail regarding his affinity for the school, expounding on comments previously made in a Texas A&M Today interview and in other venues.[9][8]
His father, Mark A. Welsh, Jr., was a member of the Texas A&M Class of 1946[17] and left the campus (along with most of his classmates) to serve overseas in World War II before returning to complete his degree. His oldest son, Mark IV,[17] was the 2001 recipient of the Brown-Rudder Outstanding Graduate award and served as commander of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets in 2000-2001. His son John is a medical doctor and graduate of the university's College of Medicine. His son Matthew is a graduate of the university's former College of Liberal Arts and was captain of the school rugby club; and his daughter Elizabeth is a graduate of the Business Honors Program at the university's Mays Business School. Additionally, his grandson Jacob is an undergraduate student (Class of 2026) in the Business Honors Program at Mays Business School.[9][8]
In addition to the connections of his father and children, Welsh said 5 of his siblings and 4 of his nieces and nephews attended the university.[8] His sister Monica Welsh, Texas A&M Class of 1982, was a four-year letter winner and "golf great"[18]on the university's golf team. After graduating, she worked in professional golf before she was tragically lost in an accident in 1992.[7]
Awards and decorations
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- 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.
Effective dates of promotion
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 |
See also
References
- 1 2 Gutteridge, Nicholas (August 9, 2023). "Frank B. Ashley III appointed as acting dean of the Bush School". The Battalion. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023.
- 1 2 "Former Air Force Chief Of Staff Mark A. Welsh III Named 27th President Of Texas A&M". Texas A&M Today. December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- 1 2 3 "General Mark A. Welsh III". Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- 1 2 "About the Service Chiefs".
- ↑ Art, Robert (September 1, 2015). "From the Director: September, 2015". MIT Seminar XXI. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Find Alumni". MIT Seminar XXI. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- ↑ "Air Education and Training Command".
- 1 2 "Donor Impact Stories".
- 1 2 3 4 "Campus Muster Ceremony Keynote Address".
- 1 2 3 4 Henton, Leslie (September 15, 2016). "Q&A: New Bush School Dean Mark Welsh". Texas A&M Today. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Northrop Grumman Elects Mark A. Welsh III to its Board of Directors". Northrop Grumman Newsroom. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ↑ Texas A&M University System [@tamusystem] (July 21, 2023). "Chancellor Sharp has named Dean Mark A. Welsh III acting President of @TAMU after President M. Katherine Banks submitted a letter late Thursday announcing she would retire immediately: http://tx.ag/TAMU072123" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
- 1 2 McGee, Kate (July 21, 2023). "Texas A&M President Katherine Banks resigns amid fallout from failed hiring of journalism professor". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ↑ "Texas A&M President Kathy Banks to Retire Immediately". Texas A&M Today. July 21, 2023. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ↑ "Regents Name Mark A. Welsh III as Interim President of Texas A&M University". Texas A&M Today. July 30, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- ↑ "A Message from Acting President Mark A. Welsh III". Texas A&M University Office of the President. July 26, 2023. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Mark Welsh Named Sole Finalist For Texas A&M University President". Texas A&M Today. November 17, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- 1 2 Atchley, Samantha. "Mark Welsh III & Mark Welsh IV '01". 12th Man Foundation. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Women's Golf to Host Mo-Morial". September 19, 2022.
- ↑ "El Libro Cronológico del Sistema de Cooperación entre las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas" (PDF). SICOFAA. 2015. p. 37. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force
External links
- 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.
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