General Dempsey on the 'Bad Habits' of Defense Spendingbr The Christian Science Monitor - St. Regis Hotelbr General Martin E. Dempsey is the 18th and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He previously served 149 days as the 37th Chief of Staff of the Army from April 11, 2011, to September 7, 2011. He speaks with the Christian Science Monitor on April 30, 2013.