Panetta, Dempsey Attend 2012 USO Gala

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • Sloan Gibson, center, president and CEO of the USO, and his wife, Margaret, left, greet Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right, during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta meets with Sloan Gibson, right, president and CEO of the USO, and his wife, Margaret, and retired Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, left, chairman of the USO Board of Governors and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Mary Jo, second from left, during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, center right, meets with dignitaries during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right, meets with dignitaries during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right, embraces Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, left, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right, visits with retired Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, left, as he attends the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Sloan Gibson, president and CEO of the USO, delivers remarks as he launches the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Singer Jordin Sparks performs during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivers remarks during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivers remarks during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta attends the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, applaud as service members of the year are introduced during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Army Lt. Gen. William Troy, left, director of Army staff, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, center, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, right, and retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, far right, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, present the USO Soldier of the Year award to Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jacob J. Perkins, second from left, during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, left, assistant Marine Corps commandant, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, far right, present the USO Marine of the Year award to Marine Corps Sgt. Clifford M. Wooldridge, center, during the 2012 USO Gala held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, left, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, center, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, second from right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, right, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, present the USO Airman of the Year award to Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Beversdorf, second from left, during the 2012 USO Gala held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson, left, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, center, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, second from right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, far right, present the USO Sailor of the Year award to Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory F. Gaylor, second from left, during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Coast Guard Vice Adm. Manson Brown, far left, deputy commandant for mission support, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, center, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, center right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, second from right, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and USO President and CEO Sloan Gibson, far right, present the USO Coast Guardsman of the Year award to Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas A. Beane, second from left, during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, left, vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, center, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, present the USO National Guardsman of the Year award to Senior Airman Evan J. Stevens, second from left, during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, applauds as service members of the year are recognized on stage during the 2012 USO Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 2012. Also pictured from left: Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Senior Airman Evan J. Stevens, National Guardsman of the Year; Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas A. Beane, Coast Guardsman of the Year; Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Beversdorf, Airman of the Year; Navy Seaman Gregory F. Gaylor, Sailor of the Year; Marine Sgt. Clifford M. Wooldridge, Marine of the Year, Staff Sergeant Jacob J. Perkins, Soldier of the Year; and Sloan Gibson, president and CEO of the USO. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett