America’s top general was just named special adviser to National Basketball Association Commissioner Adam Silver Friday after retiring from his position as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Come Jan. 1, 63-year-old Gen. Martin Dempsey will take over as chairman of the Jr. NBA Leadership Council, a global body recently created for youth interested in the sport, The Associated Press reports. He stepped down from his previous role just last week.
He will also provide leadership advice to Silver and help connect franchises with local communities.
“General Dempsey’s unwavering commitment to a life of service reflects the values that we strive to embody as an organization, and I am delighted he will continue his work with the league,” Silver said in a statement.
Dempsey has a history with the NBA. He’s previously worked with a program called Hoops for Troops. The initiative is an effort to bring basketball players and troops together on military bases. There, players conduct clinics to teach skills. Last year, while still Joint Chiefs chairman, Dempsey worked with Silver to promote Commitment to Service, an effort through the NBA to team up players and troops in service to the community.
Basketball has always been Dempsey’s favorite sport. He used to play on U.S. military bases in Germany during the 1970s.
It was natural, then, for Dempsey to be approached by the NBA before his retirement to consider playing a role in the organization.
“After four decades of service in the United States armed forces, I look forward to working with the league to help improve communities and positively impact the children of civilian and military families,” Dempsey said.
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