Martin Dempsey

Profession: Army General

Nationality:

Biography: Martin Dempsey is an American military officer and four-star general in the United States Army who served as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2011 to 2015.

As Chairman, he was the highest-ranking military officer in the U.S. armed forces, advising the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council. Dempsey had a distinguished 41-year military career, highlighted by his command of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq during the intense insurgency period from 2003-2004.

Dempsey graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He later earned master's degrees from Duke University, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the National War College.

Rising through the ranks, Dempsey held key commands including the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq, and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

In 2011, Dempsey was nominated by President Barack Obama to be the 37th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. Later that year, Obama nominated him to serve as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position he held until his retirement in 2015.

As Chairman, Dempsey advised top leaders and oversaw the military during a period that included the fight against ISIS, the Ebola crisis, and the end of the war in Afghanistan.

After retiring from the military, Dempsey was appointed chairman of USA Basketball from 2017-2020. He was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2020 for Public Service. Dempsey currently serves as a professor at Duke University, where he had earned his master's degree in English earlier in his career.

Born: March 14, 1952
Birthplace: Jersey CIty, New Jersey, USA
Age: 72 years old

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Pisces