Martin Dempsey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Dempsey
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Official portrait, 2012
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| Nickname(s) | Marty |
| Born | 14 March 1952 |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1974–2015 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chief of Staff of the United States Army United States Army Training and Doctrine Command United States Central Command Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq 1st Armored Division 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War Iraq War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Army Distinguished Service Medal (6) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal (2) with Valor V |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy (BS) Duke University (MA) United States Army Command and General Staff College (MAS) Naval War College (MS) |
Martin “Marty” Edward Dempsey (born March 14, 1952) is a retired four-star general of the United States Army. He served as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2011 to 2015. This is the highest-ranking military position in the United States, making him the main military advisor to the President.
Before becoming Chairman, Dempsey held several other important roles. He was the 37th Chief of Staff of the Army, which is the top officer in the Army. He also led major commands, including the 1st Armored Division during the Iraq War. After retiring from the military, he became a professor at Duke University and the chairman of USA Basketball.
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Early Life and Education
Martin Dempsey was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and grew up in the nearby city of Bayonne. He went to John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, New York. Dempsey is proud of his Irish roots, as all four of his grandparents came from Ireland. He even learned a little of the Irish language during summers he spent there as a child.
After high school, Dempsey attended the famous United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1974 and began his career as an Army officer. Throughout his career, he continued his education, earning master's degrees from Duke University, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the National War College.
Military Career
Early Service
After graduating from West Point in 1974, Dempsey became an officer in the Armor Branch, which uses tanks and other armored vehicles. As a young officer, he served in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
During the Gulf War (also known as Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm), he was an executive officer for a brigade in the 3rd Armored Division. Later, as a lieutenant colonel, he commanded a battalion of the 67th Armored Regiment in Germany. In 1996, he took command of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Becoming a General
In August 2001, Dempsey was promoted to brigadier general. His first assignment as a general was in Saudi Arabia, where he helped train the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
In June 2003, as a major general, Dempsey took command of the 1st Armored Division. He led the division for 13 months in Iraq. During this time, the fighting in Iraq became more intense. General Dempsey was in charge of military operations in the city of Baghdad. His command, called "Task Force Iron," was the largest division-level command in the history of the U.S. Army. Many people, including journalist Thomas Ricks, said that Dempsey did a good job in a very difficult situation.
Top Leadership Roles
After his time in Iraq, Dempsey was promoted to lieutenant general in 2007. He became the deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East. For a short time in 2008, he was the acting commander of Central Command.
On December 8, 2008, Dempsey was promoted to a four-star general. He took command of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, which is responsible for training all Army soldiers and developing new strategies.
In 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Dempsey to be the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He served in this role from April to September 2011.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Later in 2011, President Obama chose General Dempsey for the military's highest position: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He took the job on October 1, 2011. As Chairman, he was the top military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.
President Obama re-nominated him for a second term in 2013. General Dempsey served as Chairman until he retired from the Army on September 25, 2015, after 41 years of service.
Life After the Military
After retiring, Dempsey became a professor at Duke University. In 2016, he was named the chairman of USA Basketball, the organization that manages the U.S. men's and women's Olympic basketball teams. He was re-elected to this role in 2024.
In 2020, Dempsey was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame for his public service.
Personal Life
Dempsey is married to his high school sweetheart, Deanie. They have three children: Chris, Megan, and Caitlin. All three of their children have also served in the U.S. Army. Chris is still on active duty as a colonel. Martin and Deanie have nine grandchildren.
Promotions Through the Ranks
This table shows the dates when Martin Dempsey was promoted to each officer rank in the U.S. Army.
| Rank | Date |
|---|---|
 Second lieutenant |
June 5, 1974 |
 First lieutenant |
June 5, 1976 |
 Captain |
August 8, 1978 |
 Major |
September 1, 1985 |
 Lieutenant colonel |
April 1, 1991 |
 Colonel |
September 1, 1996 |
 Brigadier general |
August 1, 2001 |
 Major general |
September 1, 2004 |
 Lieutenant general |
September 8, 2005 |
 General |
December 8, 2008 |
Awards and Honors
General Dempsey has received many awards for his service. Some of the most important ones include:
- The Defense Distinguished Service Medal (three times)
- The Army Distinguished Service Medal (six times)
- The Bronze Star Medal for his heroic service in combat
- The Combat Action Badge for being actively engaged in combat
- The George Catlett Marshall Medal, the highest award from the Association of the United States Army
- An honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II
He has also received awards from other countries, including Croatia, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, and South Korea.
See also
In Spanish: Martin Dempsey para niños
