Gen. Martin E. Dempsey was confirmed by the Senate March 16, for assignment as the next Army chief of staff.He succeeds Gen. George W. Casey Jr., who retired in April after serving as the Army’s chief of staff since April 10, 2007.Dempsey is scheduled to be sworn in as chief of staff on April 11, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va.A Change of Responsibility Ceremony is scheduled for Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s Summerall Field at 3 p.m. that day.Dempsey last served as commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va. He headed TRADOC since December 2008.Before that he was acting commander of U.S. Central Command, and from August 2005 to the summer of 2007, he commanded the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.Dempsey is a 1974 graduate of West Point, where he was commissioned an armor officer.During testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, March 3, Dempsey answered questions about his fitness to serve as the next chief of staff of the Army – a position he was nominated for in January by President Barack Obama."I sit before you today with confidence that whatever challenges confront us in the future, your Army will respond with the same courage and resolve that has characterized it for the past 235 years," Dempsey said.Dempsey told senators that soldiers from all components of the Army – active, National Guard and Army Reserve – are deployed overseas today defending the United States."We are truly one Army, and we serve America proud," he said.And stateside, he said, the Army brings in some 75,000 men and women, each year. Each, he said, is committed to the Army, and the Army is committed to develop them as soldiers and leaders.Dempsey also said he knows soldiers in his own command in the United States; he knows their families, and he knows wounded soldiers and their families as well. Of the soldiers who serve, Dempsey said, their needs are simple."They understand the challenges we face, that we have as an Army and face as a nation," Dempsey said.Adding, "Their expectations of us are as simple as they are profound. They trust that we will provide the resources necessary for them to succeed in the fights in which we are currently engaged, and they trust that we will have the wisdom and resolve necessary to prepare them for the missions unknown to us today, but will surely await us."Dempsey stressed, "If you confirm me as the Army’s 37th CSA, you can be sure I will act to earn their trust every day. I will work to match their drive, their sacrifice and their resolve."And I will partner with the Congress of the United States of America and this committee in particular, to ensure we remain worthy of the title ‘America’s Army.’"Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, commander of III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, has been nominated to take command of TRADOC.Other confirmations by the Senate March 3 include:Maj. Gen. Donald M. Campbell Jr., for appointment to lieutenant general and assignment as commanding general, III Corps and Fort Hood.He most recently served as commanding general, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Ky.Lt. Gen. Purl K. Keen to serve as chief, Office of the Defense Representative, Pakistan.He is currently serving as deputy commander, United States Southern Command, Miami, Fla.Maj. Gen. Joseph L. Votel for appointment to lieutenant general and assignment as commander, Joint Special Operations Command and commander of Joint Special Operations Command Forward, Fort Bragg, N.C.He is currently serving as chief of staff, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.Brig. Gen. Donald L. Rutherford for promotion to the rank of major general and assignment as chief of chaplains, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.He is currently serving as deputy chief of chaplains. (ARNEWS)