Joseph Dunford

Joseph Dunford (born December 23, 1955, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) is a U.S. general who served as commandant of the United States Marine Corps (2014–15) before becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2015–19).

The marine legacy was strong in Dunford’s family. His father served as a marine in the Korean War, and three of his uncles were marines during World War II. Moreover, Dunford knew at an early age that he wished to continue that tradition. In 1977 he earned a B.A. in political science from St. Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders Class program. During his career he served as an infantry commander at every level, and his peers praised him not only for his ability to relate to his troops but also for his inspiring respect and enforcing discipline.

Dunford graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School, the U.S. Army War College, and the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School (now Expeditionary Warfare School). He also earned an M.A. in government from Georgetown University and an M.A. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. As a colonel, he commanded the 5th Regimental Combat Team, one of the first U.S. units to cross into Iraq in 2003 during the U.S.-led invasion. He earned the nickname “Fighting Joe” for his dynamic and effective leadership, and in 2004 he was promoted to brigadier general. Dunford ascended quickly through the general ranks: in 2008 he was promoted to major general and, shortly thereafter, lieutenant general; in October 2010 he was made assistant commandant of the Marine Corps; and in February 2013 he assumed command of the NATO International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. During that time he demonstrated a deft touch when dealing with Afghan political leaders, and he oversaw a major drawdown in the U.S. military presence in that theatre. In October 2014 Dunford became commandant of the Marine Corps.

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In May 2015 Pres. Barack Obama nominated Dunford to replace Gen. Martin Dempsey as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his Senate confirmation hearings, Dunford made headlines when he identified Russia as the top military threat to the United States, citing its nuclear arsenal and “alarming” behaviour, notably its ongoing military intervention in eastern Ukraine. Dunford was confirmed in July, and, when he assumed the post on October 1, 2015, he became the second marine to serve as the top military adviser to the president. One of his first concerns was Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil War. Russia had undertaken an expansive bombing campaign that was ostensibly targeting militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL; also called the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria [ISIS]). Analysis of the strikes, however, revealed that many were directed not at ISIL but at unaffiliated groups opposing the regime of Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad. In addition, Dunford faced questions about the possible expansion of the Russian campaign into Iraq, which had struggled to handle ISIL within its borders. Dunford, however, received assurances from Iraqi officials that the Russian campaign would not be allowed to expand into Iraq.

During Dunford’s term, significant additional power accrued to his office. In 2016 Congress tasked the chairman of the Joint Chiefs with oversight of “global military integration.” This shift in focus expanded Dunford’s role to include a broader consideration of U.S. force projection and asset allocation on a worldwide scale. Many of these strategic decisions previously had been within the purview of civilians in the Defense Department, and critics expressed concern about ceding those responsibilities to the uniformed military. Dunford’s supporters, however, claimed that speed and efficiency were of paramount importance when attempting to deal with transregional threats with limited military resources.

The inauguration of Pres. Donald Trump in January 2017 would silence many of those who had questioned the wisdom of vesting more power in the Joint Chiefs. Trump’s presidency was characterized by frequent staff turnover and an unpredictable foreign policy, and Dunford and Secretary of Defense James Mattis were credited with maintaining a measure of stability within the defense establishment. Nevertheless, in its January 2018 report, the National Defense Strategy Commission characterized the erosion of civilian military control as an “unhealthy trend” and noted that “an effort to centralize defense direction under the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may succeed operationally but produce profound strategic problems.” Other members of the Joint Chiefs praised Dunford’s leadership and emphasized that the “global integration” concept would be his most enduring legacy. On September 30, 2019, Dunford stepped down and swore in his successor, Army Gen. Mark A. Milley.