Mark Anthony Welsh III (born January 26, 1954)[2] is the 27th president of Texas A&M University, former Dean of the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University,[3] a retired United States Air Force four-star general,[4] and a member of the board of directors of Northrop Grumman.[5] Prior to his current role, he served as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate. Prior to that, General Welsh served as Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as the Associate Director for Military Affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency, and as the Vice Commander of Air Education and Training Command. In earlier portions of his 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 also served as the commandant of cadets of the United States Air Force Academy.
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Early life and education
He was born in San Antonio, Texas,[6] as the son of Mark Anthony Welsh Jr., a veteran of World War II.[7] Welsh attended Wentworth Military College in the early 1970s.[8] He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1976[6] and entered the Air Force.[9] He graduated from the Air Command and Staff College in 1986 and graduated from Webster University with a master's degree in computer resource management in 1987.[6][10] After obtaining his master's from Webster University, he graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College, the Air War College and the National War College.[6]
Military career
Welsh's military career culminated in achieving the rank of general (four stars) and serving as the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He became the commandant of cadets of the United States Air Force Academy on June 18, 1999.[11] He was appointed by President Barack Obama in May 2012, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee in July 2012 and was confirmed shortly thereafter by the United States Senate.[6] Welsh completed the customary four-year term for a "service chief," retiring in July 2016 after more than 40 years of military service.[12]
During his tenure as a service chief, Welsh "wore two hats" as is customary for the role. As the chief of a military service, he was the senior-ranking uniformed officer within the service, responsible for the organizing, training and equipping of over 600,000 Air Force personnel, as well as related budgeting and planning functions, liaison with other services and agencies, and interaction with legislators and policymakers. Separately, as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he offered advice to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.[12]
Prior to his final assignment in Washington, Welsh served as the 34th Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Commander, Allied Air Command Ramstein, Germany, and Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center at Kalkar, Germany. He was responsible for Air Force activities, conducted through 3rd Air Force, in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe. This area includes 51 countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans with a total population reaching nearly one billion people speaking more than 80 languages. He also had administrative control of 17th Air Force, providing support, logistics and resources to U.S. Africa Command.[6] In 1994–1995, he attended MIT Seminar XXI.[13]
Welsh previously served as Associate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for Military Support and Associate Director for Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C. As the ADMA, he served as the principal advisor to the Director of the CIA on military matters and was the primary bridge between the CIA and the Department of Defense for the coordination and planning of military and interagency operations. Additionally, he assisted in the formulation of CIA policies regarding military affairs, managed the provision of direct support to deployed forces, and oversaw the Director of CIA representation at the combatant commands and senior service schools.
Prior to his role at the CIA, Welsh served as the Vice Commander of Air Education and Training Command, a major command of the Air Force responsible for the provision of training and professional education throughout the organization, comprising over 60,000 educators, researchers and related personnel across 12 major installations (schools).[14]
In earlier portions of his military career, Welsh was rated as a command pilot with extensive flying experience in fighter aircraft including the F-16 and the A-10. As an active fighter pilot, he was selected for command positions at the squadron, group and wing level, before progressing into more senior leadership roles.[6]
Civilian career
Dean of the Bush School
Following his retirement from the military in 2016, Welsh was appointed Dean of the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He was recommended to fill the position by the president, Michael K. Young, provost and vice president, Karan L. Watson, and a search advisory committee. Welsh succeeded the former Bush School Dean, Ryan Crocker.[15] While dean, he chaired the Bush School's DEI Committee.[16] Frank B. Ashley III was appointed acting dean of the school in August 2023 after Welsh became president of the university.[17]
Northrop Grumman
On December 8, 2016, Northrop Grumman announced that it elected Welsh to its board of directors.[10] The addition of Welsh to the board increased the number of members of the board to 14.[18]
President of Texas A&M University
On July 21, 2023, Welsh was named acting president of Texas A&M University by Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp following the resignation of M. Katherine Banks.[19][20] Sharp also recommended for Welsh to continue as interim president until a search could be made to find Banks’ successor.[21] He was named the interim president by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on July 30, 2023.[22]
In his first official communication to students and faculty, Welsh made an indirect reference to the events surrounding the resignation of the previous president, which had involved the mishandled hiring of the journalism professor Kathleen McElroy: [20]
"...living up to our core values is an ongoing commitment, as even esteemed institutions like ours must consistently confront and resolve challenges to uphold our status as a great university. Just to be clear on where I stand, I believe diversity in all its forms is a strength. I believe every Aggie must have a voice, that each of you is critically important to our success and that you deserve to be treated with respect. I think you also believe those things."[23]
On November 17, 2023, Welsh was named the sole finalist for the position of President of Texas A&M University.[24] He became the 27th president of Texas A&M University on December 12, 2023.[4] Upon being appointed president, he promised his administration would study the effects of the "pretty rapid growth" of the university.[25] Welsh was instrumental in the hiring of Trev Alberts as the new athletics director of A&M.[26] The student capacity study committee recommended that the university pause at its current level of enrollment over the next five years, adding only 15,000 undergraduate students each year.[27]
Personal life
Welsh has four children with his wife Betty. Welsh has said that although he did not attend Texas A&M, he has a decades-long affinity for the university due to his father, children and various other family members attending the university, and considers himself an Aggie by association.[28][29][30] In a keynote address at the on-campus Muster ceremony in 2022, Welsh provided elaborate detail regarding his affinity for the school, expounding on comments previously made in a Texas A&M Today interview and in other venues.[30][29]
His father, Mark A. Welsh Jr., was a member of the Texas A&M Class of 1946[28] and left the campus (along with most of his classmates) to serve overseas in World War II before returning to complete his degree. His oldest son, Mark IV,[28] was the 2001 recipient of the Brown-Rudder Outstanding Graduate award and served as commander of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets in 2000-2001. His son John is a medical doctor and graduate of the university's College of Medicine. His son Matthew is a graduate of the university's former College of Liberal Arts and was captain of the school rugby club; and his daughter Elizabeth is a graduate of the Business Honors Program at the university's Mays Business School. Additionally, his grandson Jacob is an undergraduate student (Class of 2026) in the Business Honors Program at Mays Business School.[30][29]
In addition to the connections of his father and children, Welsh said 5 of his siblings and 4 of his nieces and nephews attended the university.[29] His sister Monica Welsh, Texas A&M Class of 1982, was a four-year letter winner and "golf great"[31] on the university's golf team. After graduating, she worked in professional golf before she was tragically lost in an accident in 1992.[28]
Awards and decorations
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- In 2016, Welsh was named an honorary Tuskegee Airman. Also in 2016, on April 22, Welsh was inducted into the Order of the Sword, the highest honor bestowed on an officer by the Air Force enlisted corps.
Effective dates of promotion
United States Air Force Academy Cadet – Class of 1976
| 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[2] |
 | Second lieutenant | June 2, 1976[2] |
See also
References
External links
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