Gen. Richard Myers was named the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff some two weeks prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks and he assumed the role on Oct. 1, 2002 -- just days before the U.S. began its military campaign in Afghanistan.

As chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Myers serves as the principal military adviser to President Bush, the secretary of defense and the National Security Council.

Mr. Bush chose him for the post in part because he was know for being a staunch advocate of the military use of space and the building of a national missile defense shield.

"[O]ne of the reasons Dick Myers is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs nominee is because he has had a lot of experience in space... It's an area that we need to explore and know more about. He's had a lot of experience when it comes to the leading edge of technology that is becoming more and more prevalent in our military. " Mr. Bush said when he announced Myers' nomination.

While his interest in space was a factor in his nomination, the conflict in Afghanistan that followed his confirmation was fought with conventional weaponry and dominating airpower.

Beyond the U.S. military's activities in Afghanistan, Myers has also been involved in reshaping the armed forces so that it will better protect Americans against the threats the country faces in a post-Sept. 11 world. The 2002 Unified Command Plan, a strategic plan for all the armed forces announced in April 2002, was part of that effort.

"I think September the 11th showed us the threats we face today... are extremely complex and require changes in the way our military thinks and reacts. The changes reflected in this Unified Command Plan I think... go a long way into preparing us for the future, and I believe they constitute a very major change," Myers said during a briefing in April 2002.

On Feb. 5, 2003, Myers testified before the House Armed Services Committee and explained the military's recent strategic shifts:

"I have established three priorities as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: To win the war on terrorism, to improve joint war-fighting and to transform our nation's military to face the dangers of the 21st century," Myers said.

Prior to taking the helm as the military's top uniformed officer, Myers was the vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs, a position he earned under President Clinton.

During his years in the military, Myers amassed more than 4,100 flying hours and 600 combat hours. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, he entered the Air Force in 1965 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program, flew combat missions in Vietnam and later held several key command positions.

From November 1993 to June 1996, Myers was commander of U.S. forces in Japan and the 5th Air Force at the Yokota Air Base in Japan. He then served as assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, followed by a year as commander of Pacific Air Forces in Hawaii. Myers was then promoted to commander of three installations, including the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Myers and his wife have a son and two daughters.

-- By Karyn Schwartz, Online NewsHour