President Trump Nominates Army Secretary Mark Esper as Defense Secretary

| June 22, 2019

Mark Esper
Mark Esper

Mark Esper, the current Army Secretary, gets the nod after acting SECDEF Patrick Shanahan withdrew his name from consideration to, “…spend more time with his family.” Which is DC Speak for “I stepped on my dick and will never pass a confirmation hearing.”

After the obligatory farewell, Trump, in nearly he same sentence named Esper for the post. Don’t know much about him, but his pedigree seems pretty good-

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 has named Army Under Secretary Ryan McCarthy as Army secretary.

McCarthy had worked at Lockheed Martin Corporation, and served as a special assistant to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and as a professional staff member on the House Committee on International Relations.

McCarthy served in the 75th Ranger Regiment during the invasion of Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute.

Much in their favor, to my eyes, is their prior military service as Army officers during times of conflict. It doesn’t pass the entire litmus test, but it’s a damn good start. Any of our Nautically Challenged friends know either of these guys?

Category: Army, Politics, Trump!, Veterans in the news

9 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Holdfast

Esper is a professional political creature, and he’s considered a top DC lobbyist. BUT as Secretary of the Army, he’s been running a chainsaw thru stupid regulations, worthless mandatory reporting, and dumbass training requirements. He’s also cut the ability of several civilian agencies to task units for support and to generate staff policy. Pushed civilian run Depots to crank out more overhauled and upgraded equipment.

Navy and AF has it’s act together when it comes to getting new equipment fielded. Since procurement authority got stripped from the Ordnance Corps and put into Army Materiel Command- the Army typically takes 30 years or more to figure out how to buy a new helicopter.

Esper has kicked the Army procurement system into high gear and has them fielding all sorts of new weapons systems- Rumor has it, Esper is the guy who’s been pushing the Army to get its act together and select new small arms

Got his commission in 1986, Gulf War Veteran (101st ), got out of the Army went to work on Capital Hill (joined the Reserves) worked on Senate Foreign Relations committee, worked on House Armed Services Committee and was in the Bush 2 administration as Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Arms Control and Non-Proliferations. West Point, Masters in Public Administration from Harvard, PhD from George Mason

In short- professional DC swamp guy, but seems to be competent and has tried to make things easier for the guy on the ground. You could do a lot worse.

Holdfast

Tried to Edit but can’t find the button.

Esper has spent time working at large Defense Contractors too.

I think this guy knows the system from top to bottom….If he’s pointed in the right direction he can absolutely make a positive change for the folks in uniform.

A Proud Infidel®™️

You mean like the proverbial vase of Herpes?

Mason

We don’t need no stinkin’ edit buttons here. We expect perfection the first time! 😉

Thanks for the intel. Sounds like a solid pick to me!

Devtun

Esper, and Secy State Mike Pompeo are West Point classmates of ’86. Pompeo graduated first in the class. BTW, one time Army Secretary nominee US Rep Tennessee Mark Green was also part of that class.

5th/77th FA

‘Pears like we getting a few more adults to be in charge. Not only edumacated at the right places but have been schooled also. gabn

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

Now that’s what I call ESPERIT De Corps.

A Proud Infidel®™️

Not a bad pick at all, here’s hoping he’s not chock full of PC like some critters in the past!