By Ann Roosevelt
The Senate Wednesday approved the nomination of Gen. Martin Dempsey as the 37th Army chief of staff to follow Gen. George Casey, who retires next month.
Dempsey now leads the army’s Training and Doctrine Command, headquartered at Fort Monroe, Va. Senate confirmation is pending for Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, nominated as general and TRADOC commander. Cone now commands Fort Hood, Texas.
In the March 16 group of confirmations, the Senate also approved Maj. Gen. Joseph Votel as lieutenant general. Votel is slated to lead Joint Special Operations Command, replacing Vice Adm. William McRaven, who has been tapped to lead U.S. Special Operations Command. Votel also led the initial Joint IED Defeat Task Force, which led to today’s Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO).