Archive for the ‘armed forces prayer focus’ Category
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Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
Kathryn A. Condon, Executive Director, Army National Cemeteries Program
Kathryn A. Condon received her BA from the University of Rochester in New York, and an MBA from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York. She received additional education at the Army Management Staff College.
She was a Revenue Officer for the Internal Revenue Service, before becoming involved with activities on behalf of the U.S. Army. Since employed by the Army she has worked at West Point, Fort Belvoir, and in offices at the Pentagon. She was the first civilian Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. She was the Deputy to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, and oversaw one of the largest commands in the Army, with more than 50,000 employees in 149 locations worldwide, including more than 40 states and 38 countries.
Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Condon served as the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army, as an adviser responsible for researching, analyzing and development commendations on national security and Army strategic issues and trends.
She was elected for the Senior Executive Service in 1997, and became the Executive Director of the Army National Cemeteries Program in June 2010.
IN THE NEWS: A process to address problems and deficiencies at Arlington National Cemetery was the subject of a Senate Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight, Committee of Homeland Security and Government Affairs, along with the Department of the Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office. Issues of improper burials, unmarked sites, and discarded remains were brought before Congress over the last couple of years. Said Ms. Condon, “Arlington has made monumental changes in the last 19 months and we continue to move forward each and every day, putting our progress with respectable processes with predictable results.” Some of their activities include completing a review and accounting of all gravesites and inurement niches at Arlington, and creating defined accountability processes integrated into Arlington’s daily operations and rigorous employee training. They are also working with state-of-the-art technology for all record-keeping. Among the national cemeteries in the United States, Arlington is unique. It is the only national cemetery that routinely holds graveside services and provides full military honors for eligible veterans. There are more than 4 million visitors annually, and approximately 27-30 funeral services per day, five days a week.
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Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
General Peter W. Chinarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army
Peter W. Chinarelli hails from Seattle, Washington, where he was born in 1950. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Seattle University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He attained a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington and a Master of Arts degree in national security strategy from Salve Regina University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Command and Staff College and the National War College.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant when just out of college. Throughout his career, he has served in Army units in the United States, Germany and Belgium, and has commanded at every level from platoon to corps.
His principal staff assignments have been as the operations officer, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas; Executive Assistant and later Executive Officer to the Supreme Allied Commander, at Mons, Belgium, and as the Director of Operations, Readiness and Mobilization at Headquarters, Department of the Army. During the Iraq War, he commanded a division, and during Operation Iraqi Freedom II, was commanding general, Multi-National Corps-Iraq. He holds the rank of Four-Star General, and is currently Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.
IN THE NEWS: Nearly two years ago, only 210,000 soldiers sought behavioral health practitioners for their problems, said General Peter Chinarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. The number has since gone up to 280,000. “I think we have begun the process in the Army of de-stigmatizing behavior health issues,” the General said. “That to me is absolutely crucial. People who need help, get the help they need. I think we’ve been able to do this with the help of commanders and leaders at all levels.”
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Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
General Martin E. Dempsey, U.S. Army, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Martin Dempsey was born in 1952 in Goshen, New York. He graduated from John S. Burke Catholic High School. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant.
His other education includes receiving a Master of Arts in English from Duke University, and a Master of Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He also received an M.S. in national security and strategic studies from the National War College.
During his 36 years of military service, General Dempsey has served in a variety of professionally rewarding and developmental positions across the Army in both the generating and operating forces. He served as the Executive Officer of the 4th Battalion 67th Armor (Bandits) in Germany, and went on to be the Executive Officer of another Brigade during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He then commanded the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment as a Colonel.
Promoted to Brigadier General, Dempsey assumed command of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq. While there, he added to his work the operational command over the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division, in a command known as “Task Force Iron.”
When Secretary of Defense Robert Gates accepted his assignment, Dempsey took over command as acting commander at CENTCOM. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Commander of the Seventh U.S. Army in Europe. In February of 2011, he was appointed the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. In August 2011, he was confirmed by the United States Senate by unanimous consent to replace Admiral Mike Mullen as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was sworn in on September 30, 2011.
General Dempsey is married to his high school sweetheart, Deanie, and they have three children, with three grandchildren and another expected in the summer. Each of Dempsey’s three children has served in the U.S. Army.
IN THE NEWS: The top U.S. military commander, Army General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is scheduled for talks in Israel this week, coming at a time when the U.S. is concerned that Israel might be preparing to attack Iran over its nuclear program. Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran to be an existential threat because of its nuclear program, missile capabilities, support for anti-Israel militants in Lebanon and Gaza, and frequent references by its president to the destruction of Israel. Dempsey’s visit will be his first official trip to Israel since he assumed command of the joint chiefs on September 30. His predecessor, Admiral Mike Mullen, made several visits to Israel during his tour-year term.
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Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
Rear Admiral David B. Woods, USN, Commander, Joint Task Force Guantanamo
David B. Woods is a native of Ogden, Utah. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and received his master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from Naval War College.
His shore assignments include Naval Surface Weapons Center, and Electronic Combat Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Sea duty includes VAQ-131 deploying aboard USS Independence and aboard USS Ranger. He also served aboard the USS Nimitz. He is a Naval Flight Officer.
Woods’ major command was as commander, Carrier Air Wing for two deployments with Carrier Strike Group aboard USS Nimitz to the Western Pacific, North Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf in combat support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
He has held several joint commands, and his current tour of duty as commander of the Joint Task Force Guantanamo began in August 2011.
IN THE NEWS: Lawyers for prisoners charged in connection with the September 11 attacks and being held in Guantanamo have received a 27-page draft of orders by Navy Rear Admiral David Woods. The new rules would require legal mail to be submitted to a security review. The lawyers were told to sign an agreement to abide by the rules within 48 hours. Instead, they protested in a return memo, indicating the rules would violate attorney-client privilege. Woods was not immediately available for comment.
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Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
Vice Admiral Mark I. Fox, Commander U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet
Mark I. Fox was born in March 1956 in Abilene, Texas. He was commissioned upon his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, an two years later was designated a Naval Aviator.
During his career, Fox has deployed from both coasts in five fleet tours, flying the A-7E Corsair II and F/A-18 Hornet in over 100 combat and contingency missions off the coasts of Lebanon and Libya, and over the Balkans and Iraq.
IN THE NEWS: “We have always stated that there is no need for the forces belonging to the countries beyond this region to have a presence in the Persian Gulf,” said an Iranian general Wednesday, adding, “Their presence does nothing but create mayhem, and we never wanted them to be present in the Persian Gulf.” Iran threatened to block the strait if sanctions were imposed on its oil exports. France, Britain and Germany have proposed sanctions to punish Iran’s lack of cooperation on its nuclear program. A spokesperson for the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain responded, “Anyone who threatens to disrupt freedom of navigation in an international strait is clearly outside the community of nations; any disruption will not be tolerated.”
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Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer
Thursday, December 29th, 2011
Larry Stubblefield, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Diversity and Leadership
Larry Stubblefield received a BS in Business Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He went on to earn an MA in Business and Organization Management from the University of Laverne, California, a Master of Strategic Studies from the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
In his position with the U.S. Army, he has commanded the Defense Distribution Depot in Corpus Christi, Texas, served as Commander of the 6th Area Support Group in Stuttgart, Germany, and been an Executive Officer and Senior Military Advisor to the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army in Washington, D.C. He retired with the rank of Colonel after 30 years of active duty.
For three ensuing years he concurrently served as Acting Executive Director of the US Army Information Technology Agency and as Executive Director, US Army Headquarters Services.
In 2010, Stubblefield was elected as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Diversity and Leadership.
IN THE NEWS: Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Larry Stubblefield wrote to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that the Junior ROTC uniform policy will develop appropriate procedures to provide cadets the opportunity to request the wear of religious head dress, such as the turban and hijab. He wrote, “The Army prides itself in being a diverse organization, comprised of individuals from many faiths and religions.”
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Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
General Lloyd Austin III, United States Army, Commanding General, U.S. Forces, Iraq
Lloyd James Austin III was born in August 1953 in Mobile, Alabama. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and also earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Auburn University, and a Master’s Degree in Business Management from Webster University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.
After graduation from West Point, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He has served at Fort Bragg, in Indianapolis with the Recruiting Command, and as a Company Tactical Officer at West Point, New York. He has had assignments in Germany, at Fort Drumm, New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and in Fort Stewart, Georgia and was engaged in the war in Iraq.
From September 2003 until August 2005, he was the Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) in Operating Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, and then served at Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
In September 2010 he became Commanding General of U.S. Forces, Iraq, taking over from General Ray Odierno.
IN THE NEWS: At the ceremony officially closing the Iraq war, Army General Lloyd J. Austin said, “We are a much more seasoned force, across the board. If you look at the experience in our ranks, it’s just incredible.” Austin noted the many service members who, like him, have multiple deployments under their belts .He especially acknowledged the high levels of adaptability of personnel and equipment, and the advancement of the concept of joint operations. His pride in the Army and other U.S. forces was evident as he gave the orders to “case the colors,” signifying a new relationship between the U.S. and an Iraq that is sovereign, stable and secure.
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Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Thomas R. Lamont, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
Thomas R. Lamont was educated at Illinois State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree. He obtained his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.
In the mid-1970s, he worked as counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Later he engaged in the private practice of law. In addition to his work as a lawyer, Lamont was involved in community and public service in a number of lays.
He served as Judge Advocate General for the Illinois Army National Guard, retiring with the rank of Colonel.
Lamont was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Illinois system. He later served as a member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and on the Military Academy Appointments Committee of U.S. Senator from Illinois Alan J. Dixon.
President Obama nominated Lamont to be the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and he received the confirmation of the Senate.
IN THE NEWS: The Army is moving forward with plans to cut about 8,700 positions, using a mix of early retirement offers, buyouts and attrition to trim the jobs by the end of the fiscal year in late September 2012. “Army commands and agencies are continuing to take necessary actions to reduce their civilian on-board strength to meet funded targets established by the secretary of defense and reflected in the president’s budget,” Thomas R. Lamont, assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs said in a statement. “To the maximum extent possible, the Army will rely on voluntary departures to achieve these manpower reductions.”
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Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
Vice Admiral David J. Venlet, Program Executive Officer, F-35 Lightning II Program
David J. Venlet is from Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School and US Naval Test Pilot School. He has a BS in Systems Engineering and MS in Aerospace Engineering. He is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
Venlet’s tours include Naval Air Systems Command Strike test pilot at Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, the F/A-18 program in various capacities including class desk officer and deputy program manager. He was executive assistant to the commander, Naval Air Systems Command, and served as program manager or Air-to-Air Missiles involving AIM-9x deployment.
Fleet tours include VF-41 as an F-14 Tomcat radar intercept officer embarked in USS Nimitz. He wears the distinguished Flying Cross for action in VF-41. After re-designation as a naval aviator, he flew with VF-143 as an F-14 pilot embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and with VF-101 at NAS Oceana as a Tomcat instructor pilot and A-4 adversary pilot
Vice Admiral Vinlet previously served as commander Naval Air Systems Command, as executive officer, Tactical Air Programs and commander Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, with responsibility for Navy weapons and systems and fleet support capabilities at China Lake and Point Mugu, California. He is now the program executive officer for the F-35 Lightning II Program.
IN THE NEWS: In an interview, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral David Venlet said it would be “wise to sort of temper production” of Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35, calling initial assumptions about the design a “miscalculation.” Venlet said early tests revealed that parts would need to be replaced and redesigned, adding several million dollars to the cost of planes that already carry an $111 million price tag on average. “The question for me is not ‘F-35 or not?’” Venlet said. “The question is, how many and how fast?”
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Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer
Thursday, December 1st, 2011
General James Mattis, USMC, Commander, United States Central Command
James Mattis was born in September 1950 in Pullman, Washington. He graduated from Richmond High School and attended Central Washington University. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in January 1972.
As a lieutenant, he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander in the 3rd Marine Division. As a captain, he commanded a rifle company and a weapons company in the 1st Marine Brigade, then Recruiting Station Portland as a major. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, one of Task Force Ripper’s assault battalions in the Gulf War.
Rising through the ranks, Mattis served with Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Vigilant Resolve and Operation Phantom Fury. He was nominated by President George W. Bush for appointment to the rank of general to command U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. In August, 2010, he replaced General David Petraeus as the current commander of United States Central Command.
IN THE NEWS: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta offered their deepest condolences for the loss of life in a joint statement issued last weekend, and said they are closely monitoring reports of the cross-border incident that led to the killing of more than two dozen Pakistani soldiers. Despite increasing conflicts between the United States and Pakistan, including one that followed the U.S. raid in May that killed Osama bid Laden, “the focus now is on continuing to engage with our Pakistani counterparts over time, even during difficult periods,” said a Pentagon spokesman. While CENTCOM has not yet officially announced its role in the investigation (as of this writing), the command’s press secretary said, “I think you can expect the investigation to look at the full range of factors that contributed to this tragedy and it will be broad, expansive and thorough.”
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