SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- Army Gen. Henry "Hugh" Shelton, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, paid a call on the men and women of U.S. Transportation Command here Tuesday.

Shelton's visit emphasized the importance of the defense transportation system.

"The command is vital for our national security by managing strategic assets that get people, equipment, and material to the far corners of the world on extremely short notice," Shelton said. "They sustain our forces whenever, wherever and for as long as they are needed."

During his visit, Shelton toured USTRANSCOM's Mobility Control Center, spoke with troops at the Nightingale Inn dining facility and the Airman Leadership School, and met with senior officials from USTRANSCOM and its component commands (Air Mobility Command, Military Traffic Management Command, and Military Sealift Command).

He congratulated USTRANSCOM on the teamwork necessary to provide air, land, and sea transportation to the Department of Defense in peace and war.

"It is the dedication and professionalism of TRANSCOM's active duty military, the Reserve and Guard component, civilian personnel and commercial industry partners who ensure that we move on time by air, sea, rail and at ports," he said.

Shelton became the fourteenth chairman of the joint chiefs of staff on Oct. 1, 1997, and was reconfirmed by the Senate for a second two-year term in 1999. In this capacity, he serves as the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.

In his previous assignment, Shelton served as the commander in chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

Shelton served as commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C. Other past assignments include commander, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg; assistant division commander for operations, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; and commander, Company C, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam.

Shelton also commanded the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; and the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg. He has served as the Joint Staff deputy for operations, J-3, Washington; chief of staff, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, N.Y.; division G-3, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis; and brigade adjutant and operations officer, deputy division adjutant and infantry battalion executive officer while assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

Shelton completed a second tour in the South Vietnam as a member of Detachment B-52 (Project Delta) and commander of Detachment A-104, 5th Special Forces Group. He also deployed to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was joint task force commander during Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.