Defense Secretary Ash Carter today extended his congratulations to three top officers on their confirmation to assume their new posts.
Visionary Leader
The Senate confirmed Gen. David L. Goldfein as Air Force chief of staff, Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel as chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Marine Corps Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser as commander of U.S. Africa Command.
In a statement, Carter said Goldfein's “remarkable abilities as a visionary leader, commander, and a strategist have been proven over decades of dedicated service to the Air Force.”
“In his most recent responsibilities as director of the Joint Staff and as vice chief of staff of the Air Force, he demonstrated superb skill as a consensus builder and a manager,” the secretary said. “His experience and excellence as an officer will enable the men and women of the Air Force to build on the excellence they have achieved under the leadership of Gen. Mark Welsh.”
Critical Role
Lengyel's leadership as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau played a critical part in ensuring that the nation’s 470,000 Army and Air National Guard personnel are “accessible, capable and ever-ready to provide combat resources to protect our homeland,” Carter said. “Like Gen. Frank Grass, General Lengyel will give the men and women of the National Guard the strong advocacy and confident leadership that they deserve,” he added.
Strong Leadership
Waldhauser has demonstrated strong military leadership, deft political-military judgment and superb management skills during his three decades as a Marine, from the Gulf War to the invasion of Afghanistan to his most recent assignment at the Pentagon as director for Joint Force Development, the secretary said, adding that the general brings “the same caliber of strong leadership that Gen. David Rodriguez has given the men and women of Africom over the past three years.”
“I appreciate the efforts of the Congress to swiftly confirm all three of these great leaders who will keep our military strong and our nation safe,” Carter said, adding his congratulations to the generals and their families.