Washington (CNN) -- With full military fanfare -- gun salutes, fife and drum corps, brass bands, a flyover and presidential praise -- the nation bid farewell to its top military man and honored his successor Friday. Adm. Mike Mullen has been Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, the president's top military adviser, since October of 2007. Army Gen. Marty Dempsey takes his place. "As the new secretary of defense, I am confident of the future because we have the strongest military force in our history -- and it is strong because we can replace one great warrior with another," Leon Panetta said during the 90-minute Hail and Farwell ceremony on the Fort Myer parade ground across the river from Washington..
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Adm. Mike Mullen honored as he steps down as Joint Chiefs chairman
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Obama: "Our nation is more secure because of the service that you have rendered."
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Mullen urges American to become more connected to military personnel
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Army Gen. Marty Dempsey is the new chairman
"@placeholder's strategic vision is the right one for this time of transition as we craft a joint force that can defeat the wide range of complex security threats we face today, and into the future," Panetta said.