Last updated on September 24th, 2018 at 10:01 am
Martin Dempsey is a retired American Army General who served as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dempsey is additionally the chairman of USA Basketball and the Junior NBA.
The Early Years of Martin Dempsey
Martin Edward Dempsey was born on March 14, 1952, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Dempsey attended the John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, New York before joining the United States Military Academy at West Point. An Irish-American, Dempsey used to spend his childhood summers in Ireland, where he learned a small amount of Gaelic.
The Career of Martin Dempsey
Martin Dempsey was commissioned as an Armor officer, a job that required him to use a rifle, following his graduation from the military academy in 1974. Dempsey served in the 1st Squadron ad the officer in charge for personnel. Martin Dempsey was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was commissioned to command the 4th Battalion of the 67th Armored Regiment Bandits from 1992 to 1995 in the 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.
Martin Dempsey commanded the 1st Armored Division as a Major General in 2003. The command was the largest division-level command in the history of the United States Army. After Fallujah fell to Sunni extremists, General Dempsey and his command assumed the responsibility of the area of operations in Baghdad. General Dempsey’s work as the major general was widely lauded.
Congratulations to Joint Staff Civilian of the Year, Penny Powell. Job well done! pic.twitter.com/ouSkHBroc0
— GEN(R) Marty Dempsey (@Martin_Dempsey) May 7, 2014
In 2008, Martin Dempsey took over command as acting commander of Central Command following the retirement of Admiral William J. Fallon. The same year, Dempsey assumed command of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. In 2011, President Barrack Obama nominated Martin Dempsey to succeed General George Casey as the Army Chief of Staff. The nomination was confirmed unanimously by the Senate and Dempsey sworn in as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army on April 11, 2011. The ceremony was held in Fort Myer.
The Obama administration nominated Martin Dempsey again, this time for the position of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Senate again unanimously passed the nomination for Dempsey. Further, Obama re-nominated Dempsey after the end of his tenure but Martin graciously stepped down of his position and was replaced by General Joseph Dunford. Martin Dempsey has since been working as a professor at the prestigious Duke University.
In the Personal Life & Net Worth of Martin Dempsey
Martin Dempsey is married to Deanie Dempsey. The couple met in high school and even went to prom together. The couple went on to have three children, namely Chris, Megan, and Caitlin. Martin and Deanie have nine grandchildren from their offspring. Martin Dempsey has reportedly amassed a net worth estimated around 1.5 million US dollars.
Facts about Martin Dempsey
- Martin Dempsey’s nickname was “Marty” in the military.
- He has an MA from Duke University in English.
- All of Martin Dempsey’s three children followed their father into serving in the United States Army.
- Like their parents, Martin’s children have three kids of their own.
- Martin Dempsey wrote his graduate school thesis on Irish literary revival.
