Armed Forces Bowl News
General Mark K. Welsh III, received the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl's Great American Patriot Award on December 29, 2015, which was presented during the halftime show at the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl honoring General Welsh on his exemplary service to the United States. The award was presented by General Garry L. Parks, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), Chairman of Armed Forces Insurance, the sponsor of the award, and official insurance partner of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
Welsh currently serves as the Chief of Staff of the U.S Air Force in Washington D.C. where he is responsible for the organizing, training, and equipping a team of over 660,000 Airmen serving around the globe. The senior uniformed officer of America's Air Force, General Welsh is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he and other service chiefs serve as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, and the President.
"Armed Forces Insurance is truly honored to present the Great American Patriot Award to General Welsh," stated Lieutenant General Garry L. Parks, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), Chairman of Armed Forces Insurance. "Following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy, he has held a plethora of diverse billets in ever-increasing positions of responsibility that prepared him well for his current role as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. Throughout this distinguished career, he has demonstrated a leadership style balanced between exhibiting a ‘genuine compassion for airmen of all ranks' while concurrently being known as a ‘brilliant strategist'. It will be my honor, says Parks, to present the Great American Patriot Award to General Welsh, a superb leader who inspires others to follow."
The qualifications for the Great American Patriot Award recipient state that the candidate must be of high moral fiber and good character, having spent their lives and/or careers serving the common good of the United States. They will have gone beyond the call of duty to serve and protect this country, with proven dedication and loyalty in upholding the Constitution and the laws of the nation. Finally, the Great American Patriot Award winner will have worked tirelessly to make the U.S. a better and safer place for all its citizens.