Embassy Press Release

Chief of General Staff, Admiral Gheorghe Marin (L), meets U.S. soldiers at Nellis Air Force Base. Photo: TSgt Michael R. Holzworth and Romanian Ministry of Defense

Admiral Gheorghe Marin decorated with the U.S. Legion of Merit

Thursday, August 6, Admiral Gheorghe Marin, Ph.D., the Chief of Romanian General Staff, met with Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff as part of his visit to the U.S.

During discussions, the two military leaders approached aspects of bilateral cooperation and explored possibilities of enhancing cooperation. They discussed the common actions of Romanian and American soldiers in the theaters of operations and the training activities involving all categories of military forces. The two defense chiefs also exchanged opinions with respect to the present security situation.

Admiral Michael Mullen presented on behalf of the U.S. President the Legion of Merit decoration, degree of Commander, to his Romanian counterpart for his “meritorious activity as Chief of the General Staff” and for having “enabled the deepening of cooperation, understanding and relations between the U.S. and Romanian armed forces.”

At the same time, the high decoration was awarded to the GS Chief for “his efforts to make the Romanian Army more professional and interoperable” and for “his remarkable capacity of leadership and personal initiative, which reflect the credibility that Admiral Marin, the Romanian Army and Romania enjoy.”

So far, Admiral Marin has visited USNORTHCOM, Nellis Air Force Base, the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School ; he met with General Norton Schwartz, the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, and with the Deputy Director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.

More photos:

Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen (L) decorates the Romanian Chief of General Staff, Admiral Gheorghe Marin (R), with the Legion of Merit. Photo courtesy of Romanian Ministry of Defense	Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen (L) and Romanian Chief of General Staff, Admiral Gheorghe Marin (R), at the conclusion of the award ceremony. Photo courtesy of Romanian Ministry of Defense
Romanian Chief of General Staff, Admiral Marin (L), lays a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo courtesy of Romanian Ministry of Defense

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