Odd because:
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He’s a 3-star (not 4)
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He’s retired from the military (a civilian that will need to be brought back in to the military)
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His appointment comes on the heels of firings of CQ Brown (outgoing chairman) and Franchetti (CNO). While not unprecedented, this doesn’t happen often.
Reaching above 3 star is pure politics. If you want someone who has not been playing the political game. By the time you reach 3 star general, you have had extensive experience in the field and so perfectly capable if not more than the 4 star