H.Res. 1547

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1547 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1547

Honoring the investiture of Texas A&M University's 27th President, 
retired Air Force General Mark A. Welsh III, and extending best wishes 
to Aggies everywhere.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 22, 2024

Mr. McCaul (for himself, Mr. Ellzey, Mr. Pfluger, Ms. Granger, Mr. 
Sessions, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Carter of Texas, and Mr. 
Hunt) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Honoring the investiture of Texas A&M University's 27th President, 
retired Air Force General Mark A. Welsh III, and extending best wishes 
to Aggies everywhere.

Whereas President Mark A. Welsh III has exemplified Texas A&M University's core 
values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and 
selfless service, throughout his career;
Whereas the example set by President Mark A. Welsh III inspires our community to 
develop leaders of character dedicated to serving the greater good;
Whereas Mark A. Welsh III believes, ``Leadership is a gift. It's given by those 
who follow, but you have to be worthy of it'';
Whereas Mark A. Welsh III was born to his proud Aggie father, Mark A. Welsh, 
Jr., class of 1946, and mother Margaret (Peg), in San Antonio, Texas, on 
January 26, 1954;
Whereas he earned a bachelor of science from the United States Air Force Academy 
and a master of science degree in computer resource management from 
Webster University;
Whereas he graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College, the Air 
War College, and the National War College;
Whereas Mark A. Welsh III married his wife Betty on February 25, 1978, and is 
father to four Aggies: Mark (IV), John, Matthew, and Elizabeth, who are 
among over a dozen Aggies in his family;
Whereas Mark A. Welsh III was a fellow of Seminar XXI at the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology, a fellow of the National Security Studies 
Program of Syracuse University and Johns Hopkins University, a fellow of 
Ukrainian Security Studies at the John F. Kennedy School of Government 
at Harvard University, a fellow of the Pinnacle Course of the National 
Defense University, and a graduate of the General Manager Program at the 
Harvard Business School;
Whereas, during his long military career, he received numerous awards and 
decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak 
leaf cluster, Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Defense 
Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak 
leaf cluster, and Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster;
Whereas Mark A. Welsh III flew more than 3,300 hours in the F-16, A-10, T-37, 
and TG-7A;
Whereas as a combat pilot, he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses for 
missions flown in Desert Storm;
Whereas he served as Commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe and 
Commander of NATO Air Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and as 
Associate Director of Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence 
Agency;
Whereas Mark A. Welsh III became the 20th Chief of Staff of the Air Force in 
August 2012, serving as the senior uniformed Air Force officer 
responsible for the organization, training, and equipping of 664,000 
members and civilian employees serving in the United States and 
overseas;
Whereas as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he served as a military 
advisor to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, and 
President of the United States;
Whereas Mark A. Welsh III also served as the Commandant of the United States Air 
Force Academy;
Whereas he retired from the Air Force as a four-star general in 2016, after 40 
years of distinguished service;
Whereas upon his retirement on July 1, 2016, the Secretary of the Air Force 
created a new award in his honor, the General Mark A. Welsh III One Air 
Force Award, which is awarded to a team that ``demonstrates improved 
effectiveness, operational readiness, and mission accomplishment through 
integrated solutions'';
Whereas Mark A. Welsh III, after retiring from the Air Force, continued his 
career of public service as Dean of the Bush School of Government and 
Public Service of Texas A&M University; and
Whereas he once again answered the noble call of service to become the 27th 
president of Texas A&M University on December 12, 2023, after being 
unanimously approved by the Texas A&M University System Board of 
Regents: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors retired Air 
Force General Mark A. Welsh III as the 27th President of Texas A&M 
University on this occasion of his investiture ceremony.
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