President Barack Obama, second from right, participates in the Armed Forces farewell tribute to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, right, at the ?Change of Office? Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff swearing-in ceremony for Gen. Martin Dempsey, left, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va., Sept. 30, 2011. Also taking part in the ceremony were Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, second from right, and Vice President Joe Biden, center.
President Obama today welcomed Army General Martin Dempsey as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as he honored the outgoing Chairman, Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, and thanked him for his four years of extraordinary service in that role and his four decades in uniform.
The President was attending the "Change of Office" Staff Ceremony, where he paid tribute to Mullen’s illustrious career and highlighted many of his accomplishments in office, saying that “our military is stronger and our nation is more secure because of the service that you have rendered.”
Today, we have renewed American leadership in the world. We’ve strengthened our alliances, including NATO. We’re leading again in Asia. And we forged a new treaty with Russia to reduce our nuclear arsenals. And every American can be grateful to Admiral Mullen -- as am I -- for his critical role in each of these achievements, which will enhance our national security for decades to come.
Today, we see the remarkable achievements of our 9/11 generation of service members. They’ve given Iraqis a chance to determine their own future. They’ve pushed the Taliban out of their Afghan strongholds and finally put al Qaeda on the path to defeat. Meanwhile, our forces have responded to sudden crises with compassion, as in Haiti, and with precision, as in Libya. And it will be long remembered that our troops met these tests on Admiral Mullen’s watch and under his leadership.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/09/30/president-obama-welcomes-new-chairman-joint-chiefs-staff
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