Posted on 06/21/2019 8:47:19 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
President Trump announced his intention to nominate Army Secretary Mark Esper as defense secretary on Friday in a White House statement.
The move comes after Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, whom Trump previously had nominated for the position, withdrew his name from consideration Tuesday.
Trump announced Shanahan’s withdrawal and his appointment of Esper as acting defense secretary at the same time. Esper begins as acting defense secretary on Monday.
“I know Mark, and have no doubt he will do a fantastic job!”
Esper previously served as a vice president for government relations at Raytheon Company. He served in the Army as an infantry officer in the 101 Airborne Division and served in the first Gulf War. He transitioned to the National Guard and retired after 21 years of service.
Esper also worked on national security issues on Capitol Hill for then-Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Fred Thompson (R-TN), and Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). He also served on the Senate Foreign Relations and House Armed Services Committees and as a deputy assistant secretary of defense. He is a West Point graduate.
Trump also announced his intention to nominate Pentagon Comptroller and Acting Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist as deputy defense secretary. Norquist took over the acting deputy defense secretary role when Shanahan was acting defense secretary. As comptroller, he led the Pentagon’s first building-wide audit in its history.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
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