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Mark Welsh

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Mark Welsh

Mark Anthony Welsh III (born January 26, 1954) is a retired United States Air Force four-star general and a member of the board of directors of Northrop Grumman. He was the 27th president of Texas A&M University, and is a former dean of its Bush School of Government & Public Service. Welsh was appointed by Barack Obama to serve as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Welsh was the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the associate director for Military Affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency, and the vice commander of Air Education and Training Command. In his early career, he served as a fighter pilot (primarily flying the F-16 and A-10 aircraft) and was a commander at the squadron, group, and wing level, in addition to assignments in training, operations, intelligence, and acquisitions. He was also the commandant of cadets of the United States Air Force Academy.

Infobox

Preceded by
Norton A. Schwartz
Succeeded by
David L. Goldfein
President
Barack Obama
Born
Mark Anthony Welsh III (1954-01-26) January 26, 1954 (age 71)San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Spouse
Betty
Children
4
Education
United States Air Force Academy (BS)Webster University (MS)
Call sign
"Boomer"
Allegiance
United States
Branch/service
United States Air Force
Years of service
1976–2016
Rank
General
Commands
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
Battles/wars
Gulf WarWar on terrorism
Awards
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3)Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)Defense Superior Service Medal (2)Legion of Merit (2)Distinguished Flying Cross (2)Meritorious Service Medal (3)Air Medal (2)Full list

Tables

Unit awards
Unit awards
Personal decorations
Unit awards
Service Awards
Service Awards
Personal decorations
Service Awards
Campaign and service medals
Campaign and service medals
Personal decorations
Campaign and service medals
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Personal decorations
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Foreign awards
Foreign awards
Personal decorations
Foreign awards
Personal decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Unit awards
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
Service Awards
Combat Readiness Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Campaign and service medals
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service Award (second ribbon to denote tenth award)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze service star
Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
Legion of Honour, Knight (France)
SICOFAA Legion of Merit, Grand Cross
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Other accoutrements
Command Air Force Pilot Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge
· Effective dates of promotion
Insignia
Rank
Date
General
Dec. 13, 2010
Lieutenant general
Dec. 9, 2008
Major general
Aug. 1, 2003
Brigadier general
Aug. 1, 2000
Colonel
Feb. 1, 1994
Lieutenant colonel
June 1, 1989
Major
May 1, 1985
Captain
June 2, 1980
First lieutenant
June 2, 1978
Second lieutenant
June 2, 1976
· External links
Preceded byM. Katherine Banks
Preceded byM. Katherine Banks
Academic offices
Preceded byM. Katherine Banks
Academic offices
President of Texas A&M University 2023–present
Academic offices
Succeeded byVacant
Preceded byRyan Crocker
Preceded byRyan Crocker
Academic offices
Preceded byRyan Crocker
Academic offices
Dean of theBush School of Government & Public Service 2016–2023
Academic offices
Succeeded byFrank B. Ashley III (acting)
Military offices
Military offices
Academic offices
Military offices
Preceded byNorton Schwartz
Preceded byNorton Schwartz
Academic offices
Preceded byNorton Schwartz
Academic offices
Chief of Staff of the Air Force 2012–2016
Academic offices
Succeeded byDavid L. Goldfein
Preceded byRoger Brady
Preceded byRoger Brady
Academic offices
Preceded byRoger Brady
Academic offices
Commander of United States Air Forces in Europe 2010–2012
Academic offices
Succeeded byPhilip Breedlove
Preceded byStephen R. Lorenz
Preceded byStephen R. Lorenz
Academic offices
Preceded byStephen R. Lorenz
Academic offices
Commandant of Cadets of the United States Air Force Academy 1999–2001
Academic offices
Succeeded byS. Taco Gilbert III
Academic offices
Preceded byM. Katherine Banks
President of Texas A&M University 2023–present
Succeeded byVacant
Preceded byRyan Crocker
Dean of theBush School of Government & Public Service 2016–2023
Succeeded byFrank B. Ashley III (acting)
Military offices
Preceded byNorton Schwartz
Chief of Staff of the Air Force 2012–2016
Succeeded byDavid L. Goldfein
Preceded byRoger Brady
Commander of United States Air Forces in Europe 2010–2012
Succeeded byPhilip Breedlove
Preceded byStephen R. Lorenz
Commandant of Cadets of the United States Air Force Academy 1999–2001
Succeeded byS. Taco Gilbert III

References

  1. Welsh was the acting president from July 21, 2023 to July 30, 2023. He was the interim president from July 30, 2023 unti
  2. Texas A&M University System [@tamusystem]
    https://x.com/tamusystem/status/1682389904272007168
  3. Texas A&M Today
    https://today.tamu.edu/2023/07/30/regents-name-mark-a-welsh-iii-as-interim-president-of-texas-am-university/
  4. Texas A&M Today
    https://today.tamu.edu/2023/12/12/welsh-named-27th-president-of-texas-am/
  5. Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/article/texas-am-university-resignation-mark-welsh-dei-lgbtq-gender-identity-02a5baa0c355174824630ef9c7cfe083
  6. Defense Media Network, Faircount Media Group
    https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/new-air-force-chief-of-staff-nominee-brings-proven-performance-to-new-job
  7. Air Force Register
    https://archive.org/0/items/airforceregister1979wash/airforceregister1979wash.pdf
  8. Northrop Grumman
    https://www.northropgrumman.com/who-we-are/leadership
  9. The Battalion
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230820223357/https://www.thebatt.com/news/frank-b-ashley-iii-appointed-as-acting-dean-of-the-bush-school/article_74f28e0e-36f3-11ee-b8a3-e7df114df6d9.html
  10. United States Air Force
    https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/104966/general-mark-a-welsh-iii
  11. "Texas A&M names former Air Force General Mark A. Welsh III president of university"
    https://www.fox26houston.com/news/texas-am-president-mark-a-welsh-iii-former-air-force-general
  12. Fulton Sun
    https://www.fultonsun.com/news/2016/nov/21/wentworth-military-academy/
  13. Lone Star Flight Museum
    https://lonestarflight.org/hall-of-fame/mark-a-welsh-iii/
  14. Northrop Grumman Newsroom
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170711192942/https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-elects-mark-a-welsh-iii-to-its-board-of-directors
  15. Joint Chiefs of Staff
    https://www.jcs.mil/About
  16. United States Air Force
    https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104471/air-education-and-training-command
  17. Bush School of Government & Public Service
    https://bush.tamu.edu/news/general-mark-a-welsh-iii-appointed-dean-of-the-bush-school
  18. Texas A&M Today
    https://today.tamu.edu/2024/06/06/veteran-national-intelligence-expert-appointed-dean-of-bush-school
  19. The Texas Tribune
    https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/21/tamu-president-resign-journalism
  20. Texas A&M Today
    https://today.tamu.edu/2023/07/21/texas-am-president-kathy-banks-to-retire-immediately/
  21. Texas A&M University Office of the President
    https://president.tamu.edu/messages/a-message-from-acting-president-mark-a-welsh.html
  22. Texas A&M Today
    https://today.tamu.edu/2023/11/17/mark-welsh-named-sole-finalist-for-texas-am-university-president/
  23. Air Force Times
    https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2023/12/12/former-air-force-boss-mark-welsh-officially-named-head-of-texas-am
  24. CBS News
    https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-am-president-mark-welsh-resigns-political-backlash/
  25. Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-donald-trump-es-texas-colleges-and-universities-u-s-department-of-justice-d154530ab7ac13ffc97e4dcce72c0e1b
  26. Texas Scorecard
    https://texasscorecard.com/state/pressure-builds-for-ousting-am-president-after-lgbt-class-controversy/
  27. Houston Chronicle
    https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/texas-am-indoctrination-video-21037744.php
  28. KBTX-TV
    https://www.kbtx.com/2025/09/09/am-dean-professor-removed-following-student-complaints-over-curriculum
  29. The Texas Tribune
    https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-am-university-president-mark-welsh-resigns
  30. Texas Public Radio
    https://www.tpr.org/news/2025-09-18/texas-a-m-president-mark-a-welsh-iii-to-step-down-after-a-week-of-turmoil-over-viral-classroom-video
  31. The Texas Tribune
    https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/10/texas-am-mccoul-firing-academic-freedom-council/
  32. The Texas Tribune
    https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/22/texas-am-professor-fired-faculty-panel-ruling/
  33. 12th Man Foundation
    https://www.12thmanfoundation.com/donor-impact/stories/mark-welsh/index.html
  34. American Rhetoric
    https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/markwelshaggiemuster.htm
  35. Texas A&M Today
    https://today.tamu.edu/2016/09/15/qa-new-bush-school-dean-mark-welsh/
  36. The Battalion
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230816010705/https://www.thebatt.com/sports/women-s-golf-to-host-mo-morial-invitational-beginning-tuesday/article_9e0e1152-387d-11ed-a353-9fb45a80b4f1.html
  37. "El Libro Cronológico del Sistema de Cooperación entre las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas"
    https://31949e00-e3c5-4ff1-aab2-4636f2971829.filesusr.com/ugd/72ee95_9db1e533d3884e79b8ce791e774101be.pdf
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