WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Barack Obama's pick to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., who is currently commandant of the Marine Corps, is expected to take over Oct. 1 for Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, who will retire after a 41-year Army career. Dunford is a widely respected, combat-hardened commander who led the Afghanistan war coalition during a key transitional period during 2013-14. During his 18 months in Afghanistan, Dunford oversaw the ongoing drawdown of U.S.