Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford is to be new US top soldier

President Barack Obama is expected to announce later Tuesday the appointment of US Marine Corps commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. as next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to succeed Gen. Martin Dempsey. In his last post, the general oversaw the 2013-2014 Afghanistan transition and drawdown of US troops.
Obama is tapping Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva, a pilot and current head of U.S. Transportation Command, to be vice chairman.