Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced their selections for the Congressionally-mandated National Commission on the Future of the U.S. Army.

Chairman McCain selected General James D. Thurman, U.S. Army (ret.) and Ranking Member Reed selected Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, U.S. Army (ret.).

“With nearly 39 years of distinguished service to the U.S. Army and extensive experience commanding forces at home and abroad, General Thurman has an in-depth understanding of what the Army needs to maintain readiness and capability of its total force,” said Senator McCain. “As our country continues to face growing threats around the world, we need to ensure that the Total Army has the manpower and resources to defend our interests and protect the homeland. I have the highest confidence that General Thurman will offer a wealth of experience and strategic insight to this Commission as it makes recommendations on how the U.S. Army can best achieve its missions now and in the future.

“I am proud to appoint retired Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler to the National Commission on the Future of the Army. SMA(R) Chandler is an effective, fair-minded, and forward-thinking leader with a proven track record of taking on tough assignments and getting the job done. He will ensure the interests of our enlisted troops and their families are heard at the highest levels,” said Senator Reed. “Throughout his thirty-three plus years of distinguished service, including five years as the Army’s top enlisted soldier, he has always worked tirelessly to ensure we have the best trained and equipped soldiers. He is a strong advocate for the best possible readiness of all soldiers, for units of all sizes and branches, and for all components. In times of peace and war, SMA(R) Chandler has been a trusted advisor to our nation’s military and civilian leaders and I have every confidence he will be a valued member of the Commission.”

The panel, which is required by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, will undertake a comprehensive study of the structure of the Total Army to determine: (1) the necessary size; (2) the proper force mixture of the active component and reserve component; (3) missions; (4) force generation policies, including assumptions behind those policies; and (5) how the structure should be modified to best fulfill mission requirements in a manner consistent with available resources.

General James D. Thurman, U.S. Army (ret.)

General James D. Thurman served as the Commander of the United Nations Command for the Republic of Korea, U.S. Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea from July 2011 until October 2013. He previously served as the 18th Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces Command from June 2010 until July 2011. Prior to that, Gen. Thurman served as the Deputy Chief of Staff at the G-3/5/7 Headquarters Department of the Army. Gen. Thurman also served as Commanding General of United States Army V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany; Command of the Multi-National Division in Baghdad, Iraq; and Director of Operations for the Coalition Land Component Command for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Gen. Thurman has received numerous military awards and decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit; the Bronze Star Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Army Commendation Medal; and the Army Achievement Medal. Gen. Thurman is also a Senior Aviator and has earned the Combat Action Badge; the Parachutist Badge; the Army Staff Identification Badge; and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from East Central Oklahoma University and a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University. He is also a graduate of the Army War College.

Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, U.S. Army (ret.)

Born in Whittier, California and raised in Massachusetts, Sergeant Major of the Army (ret.) Raymond F. Chandler III enlisted in the Army in 1981. Over the course of his distinguished career, he served in all tank crewman positions and had multiple tours as a troop, squadron, and regimental master gunner. He assumed command positions in numerous regiments and divisions, earning the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and many other awards and decorations. In 2007, SMA(R) Chandler was assigned as the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) Command Sergeant Major and went on to become the 19th Commandant of USASMA, the first enlisted Commandant in the Academy’s history. He was selected as the Army’s top enlisted soldier in March 2011, serving as the 14th Sergeant Major of the Army until he retired from active duty in January of 2015. In this role, SMA(R) Chandler traveled extensively throughout the Army observing training, talking to soldiers and their families, and advising the Army Chief of Staff on all enlisted?related matters. SMA(R) Chandler and his wife, Jeanne, are the proud parents of six children and 12 grandchildren.

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