Bush To Name Marine To Lead Joint Chiefs

[thedrifter]

Bush To Name Marine To Lead Joint Chiefs
By Bradley Graham, Washington Post Staff Writer
Washington Post April 20, 2005 Pg. 22

President Bush intends to name Marine Gen. Peter Pace the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, officials said yesterday, replacing Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, whose term ends this autumn.

Announcement of the decision is due soon and probably will include the nomination of Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. as the new vice chairman, officials said.

The selection of the two officers for the Pentagon's top military posts would team Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld with a pair of senior officers with whom he is very familiar.

Pace, 59, has served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for
3 1/2 years, helping to manage the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and furthering a reputation as a smooth political operator.

Giambastiani, 56, was Rumsfeld's senior military assistant for a year before becoming head of Joint Forces Command in 2002. There, the admiral has overseen work on a number of the "transformational" military strategies strongly favored by Rumsfeld.

Although the Pace-Giambastiani team would promise continuity with Rumsfeld's agenda, the close identification of the two officers with the defense secretary also risks furthering the recent image of the Joint Staff as having lost some of its voice in Pentagon deliberations.

Myers has struggled with criticism from some quarters that he has failed to stand up sufficiently to the strong-willed Rumsfeld. Myers's supporters dispute this perception, saying that on a number of important policy questions, the general has challenged the secretary but has kept such disputes largely behind the scenes.

As Myers's deputy, Pace also has been subject to grumbling that he has avoided disagreements with Rumsfeld. But his backers say Pace has demonstrated particular skill in dealing not only with civilians at the Pentagon but also at the White House, and in managing difficult issues involving long-term strategy and weapons acquisition policies.

If confirmed by the Senate, Pace would become the first Marine to hold the chairman's job.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Pace was sent to Vietnam as a fresh lieutenant in the late 1960s and served as a platoon leader, winning a Bronze Star. In the early 1990s, he commanded Marines in Somalia, returning in 1993 after the failed raid that killed 18 Americans to help preside over an ignominius U.S. withdrawal. He went on to head U.S. Southern Command, which is responsible for operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The leadership changes on the Joint Staff come at a time of continued speculation about Rumsfeld's own plans to step down. Now in the fifth year of his second tour as Pentagon leader, Rumsfeld already holds records as the youngest and oldest person to have held the job. He has given no sign of any intention to leave soon.

To beat Robert McNamara's record of longest serving defense secretary, Rumsfeld would need to stay until March 2008.

Ellie

[yellowwing]

Outstanding choice!

I found a great article of General Pace talking about his job as Vice Chairman. You can really tell he is 110% Marine determined to do his job without interservice jockeying and rivalry: General Peter Pace - 23 January 2003

[eddief]

It's about time.

[grayshade]

I would think that the General is the right man. It's something else to know that he'll be the first Marine at that post.

[yellowwing]

Bush Nominates Marine to Head Joint Chiefs, a First
By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
NY Times 22 Aprill 2005
President Bush chose Gen. Peter Pace today for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a nomination that if confirmed by the Senate would make the general the first marine to hold the military's highest post.

"First thing America needs to know about Pete Pace is that he is a marine," President Bush said during a White House ceremony. "To the American people, marine is shorthand for can do, and I'm counting on Pete Pace to bring the Marine spirit to these new responsibilities."

General Pace, 59, is not expected to face difficulty gaining Senate confirmation to succeed Gen. Richard B. Meyers of the Air Force, who is to retire in September after four years as chairman.

"This is an incredible moment for me," General Pace said today. "It is both exhilarating and humbling. It's exhilarating because I have the opportunity, if confirmed by the Senate, to continue to serve this great nation. It's humbling because I know the challenges ahead are formidable."

General Pace, who has been vice chairman since late 2001, was recommended by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs is the main military adviser to the president and the defense secretary. He does not have direct command over any forces.

General Pace is a graduate of the Naval Academy. Born in Brooklyn and reared in Teaneck, N.J., he led a rifle platoon during the Vietnam War. He is known in the Pentagon as "Perfect Pete," for his good looks and military bearing.

The general also served in Somalia during the ill-fated American intervention there in the early 1990's and commanded American troops in Latin America until he was tapped as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

President Bush nominated Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. of the Navy to replace General Pace as vice chairman. Admiral Giambastiani was Mr. Rumsfeld's top military aide until 2002, when he took over the military's Joint Forces Command, where he focused on making the military more efficient and agile.

[fade2black]

“The first thing America needs to know about Pete Pace is that he is a Marine,” Bush said. “To the American people, the Marine is shorthand for can-do, and I’m counting on Pete Pace to bring the Marine spirit to these new responsibilities.”

What a great quote by the President!!

[GySgtRet]

It is with great pride that I annouce that General Peter Pace was my commanding officer in Buffalo New York. The General is one of the finest commanding officers that I ever had in my 20 years as a United States Marine. If I ever had the privilege of serving with the General again I would welcome that privilege to serve with this great leader.

Now is the time for the Marine Corps to shine in its finest hour with a leader of the caliber of General Pace.

Semper Fidelis

[Lock-n-Load]

Nice post. I met/heard Gen Pace in Boston for our Semper Fidelis Society of Boston, celebrating the Corps birthday 2 years ago...as he spoke to us, one could sense his identification to this throng...he was internalized and motivating about Marines of all ranks and generations...I've listened to a multitude of General Staff Officers in the 1990s at reunions, and Gen Pace's eyes welled up talking to us in Boston...he will be a shinning star as Chief of Staff in the Pentagon.He left an indelible memory on my mindset.I hung on his every word, that is his most appealing trait as a US Marine General...he identifies with his US Marines....Semper Fi

[Tom D]

Does this mean he is superior to the commandant?

[GySgtRet]

Tom D,

Yes he is. I haven't got any proof but I think that he is allready superior in his billett as Deputy to the joint chiefs...???

[GySgtRet]

Lock-n-Load,

I know exactly whay you are saying. When he was the CO at RS Buffalo he inspired and encouraged every Marine A or B billets whom ever he had command of. At an all hands meeting at then Major Pace we were exchanging polite conversation, General Haebel then Depot Commander at Parris Island was inbound to see all hands at the co's house. He stared talking about his experiences while in Viet Nam and pulled out his platoon commander's that he carried during Viet Nam which had his entire platoon's personnell in it to include blood types, selective service numbers, home of next of kin, etc... He is just one heck of a Marine I can't put in any better than that.

Semper Fidelis

[WTSands]

Hey Gunny. Do you remember what company and platoon?

[Lock-n-Load]

Like I stated, I heard alot of US Marine Generals address us at the 1st Marine Div Assoc reunions...all spoke very well, but of all of our leaders, Gen Pace gained my rapt attention after he was into his lecture, etc...no other Marine General impressed me so much in one afternoon..I even went up to have him sign a book on the Korean War [US Marines in Korea-1952]]...we smiled, shook hands and I said to Gen Pace, "Gung-F-Ho, General"...a big smile came over his face and he said, "Friggin; "A" Marine"...I've been on his page ever since...He knows; he knows!!...Semper Fi, Marines [FMF].

[Cole11]

a Marine General in charge, OOOOOOORRRAAAAHHHHH

[GySgtRet]

WTSands,

Sorry I do not remeber the unit. Were you in his platoon?

Semper Fidelis