Welsh's military career culminated in achieving the rank of general (four stars) and serving as the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was appointed by President Barack Obama in May 2012,testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee in July 2012 and was confirmed shortly thereafter by the United States Senate.[9] Welsh completed the customary four-year term for a "service chief," retiring in July 2016 after more than 40 years of military service.[14]
During his tenure as a service chief,Welsh "wore two hats" as is customary for the role. As the chief of a military service,he was the senior-ranking uniformed officer within the service,responsible for the organizing,training and equipping of over 600,000 Air Force personnel,as well as related budgeting and planning functions,liaison with other services and agencies,and interaction with legislators and policymakers. Separately,as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,he offered advice to the President,the Secretary of Defense,and the National Security Council.[14]
Prior to his final assignment in Washington,Welsh served as the 34th Commander,U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Commander,Allied Air Command Ramstein,Germany,and Director,Joint Air Power Competence Center at Kalkar,Germany. He was responsible for Air Force activities in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe. This area includes 51 countries in Europe,Asia and the Middle East,and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans with a total population reaching nearly one billion people speaking more than 80 languages. He also had administrative control of the Air Force elements providing support,logistics and resources to U.S. Africa Command.[9]
Welsh previously served as associate director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for Military Support and associate director for Military Affairs,Central Intelligence Agency,Washington,D.C. As the ADMA,he served as the principal advisor to the Director of the CIA on military matters and was the primary bridge between the CIA and the Department of Defense for the coordination and planning of military and interagency operations. Additionally,he assisted in the formulation of CIA policies regarding military affairs,managed the provision of direct support to deployed forces,and oversaw the Director of CIA representation at the combatant commands and senior service schools.
Prior to his role at the CIA,Welsh served as the Vice Commander of Air Education and Training Command,a major command of the Air Force responsible for the provision of training and professional education throughout the organization,comprising over 60,000 educators,researchers and related personnel across 12 major installations (schools).[15]
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody,right,presents the Order of the Sword to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III,left,April 22,2016. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor the enlisted corps can bestow to an individual. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
In earlier portions of his military career,Welsh was rated as a command pilot with extensive flying experience in fighter aircraft including the F-16 and the A-10. As an active fighter pilot,he was selected for command positions at the squadron,group and wing level,before progressing into more senior leadership roles.[9]
Civilian career
Dean of the Bush School
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta speaks with Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and his wife,Betty,at the ceremony where Welsh was sworn in as the 20th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force,Joint Base Andrews,MD,Aug. 10,2012. Department of Defense Image 120810-D-TT977-035. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley)
Following his retirement from the military in 2016,Welsh was appointed dean of the Bush School of Government &Public Service at Texas A&M University in College Station,Texas. He was recommended to fill the position by the president,Michael K. Young,provost and vice president,Karan L. Watson,and a search advisory committee. Welsh succeeded the former Bush School Dean,Ryan Crocker.[16] Frank B. Ashley III was appointed acting dean of the school in August 2023 after Welsh became president of the university.[17]
Northrop Grumman
On December 8,2016,Northrop Grumman announced that it elected Welsh to its board of directors.[13]
In his first official communication to students and faculty,Welsh made an indirect reference to the events surrounding the resignation of the previous president,which had involved the mishandled hiring of the journalism professor Kathleen McElroy:[18]
[L]iving up to our core values is an ongoing commitment,as even esteemed institutions like ours must consistently confront and resolve challenges to uphold our status as a great university. Just to be clear on where I stand,I believe diversity in all its forms is a strength. I believe every Aggie must have a voice,that each of you is critically important to our success and that you deserve to be treated with respect. I think you also believe those things.[20]
On November 17,2023,Welsh was named the sole finalist for the position of President of Texas A&M University.[21] He was unanimously approved by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents as the 27th president on December 12,2023.[3][22]
September 2025 class video and resignation
In early September 2025,an unnamed Texas A&M University student was videotaped presenting an argument to professor Melissa McCoul,an English professor in a children's literature class,who was teaching. The student remarked "I'm not entirely sure this is legal to be teaching because according to our president,there's only two genders and he said he would be freezing agencies' funding programs that promote gender ideology. And this also very much goes against,not only myself but a lot of people's religious beliefs". A voice,believed to be the professor,says,"If you are uncomfortable in this class you do have the right to leave".[23] The video was posted online by Brian Harrison,a member of the Texas House of Representatives. Harrison's posts also included undated audio recordings reportedly between the student and Welsh,in which the student told Welsh the professor should be fired and Welsh responded,"Well,that's not happening."[24]
Welsh terminated McCoul's employment[25] and later directed Mark Zoran,the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,and Emily Johansen,the head of the English department,to be removed with support from Texas A&M University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar.[26] He stated:
I learned this afternoon that key leaders in the College of Arts and Sciences approved plans to continue teaching course content that was not consistent with the course’s published description. As a result,I directed the provost to remove the dean and department head from their administrative positions,effective immediately. Our students use the published information in the course catalog to make important decisions about the courses they take in pursuit of their degrees. If we allow different course content to be taught from what is advertised,we let our students down. When it comes to our academic offerings,we must keep our word to our students and to the state of Texas.[27]
Welsh submitted his resignation as president of Texas A&M University on September 18,2025,[28][29] which took in effect the following day. His final day as president was September 19,2025.[4]
Personal life
Welsh has four children with his wife Betty. Welsh has said that although he did not attend Texas A&M,he has a decades-long affinity for the university due to his father,children and various other family members attending the university,and considers himself an Aggie by association.[30][31][32] In a keynote address at the on-campus Muster ceremony in 2022,Welsh provided elaborate detail regarding his affinity for the school,expounding on comments previously made in a Texas A&M Today interview and in other venues.[32][31]
His father,Mark A. Welsh Jr.,was a member of the Texas A&M Class of 1946[30] and left the campus (along with most of his classmates) to serve overseas in World War II before returning to complete his degree.
In addition to the connections of his father and children,Welsh said 5 of his siblings and 4 of his nieces and nephews attended the university.[31][33] on the university's golf team. After graduating,she worked in professional golf before she died in an accident in 1992.[30]
In 2016,Welsh was named an honorary Tuskegee Airman. Also in 2016,on April 22,Welsh was inducted into the Order of the Sword,the highest honor bestowed on an officer by the Air Force enlisted corps.
↑ Welsh was the acting president from July 21, 2023[1] to July 30, 2023. He was the interim president from July 30, 2023[2] until he was named the 27th president of Texas A&M University on December 12, 2023.[3] Welsh submitted his resignation as president on September 18, 2025, and his final day as president was September 19, 2025.[4]
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