US President Barack Obama has nominated General Mark Milley as the next Army chief of staff and Admiral John Richardson as the next chief of naval operations, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Thursday. “Both Ray and John have been tremendous leaders for their respective services over these last four years: four years that have been critical for our military and for the country, marked by an ever- changing security environment and persistent budget turbulence, but also
by magnificent performance by these two services under their leadership,” Carter said. They would be replacing General Ray Odierno, and Admiral John Greenert respectively. Carter said General Milley is a warrior and a statesman. “He not only has plenty of operational and joint experience in Afghanistan and Iraq and on the joint staff, but he also has the intellect and vision to lead change throughout the Army,” he said.