List of Department of Defense appointments by Donald Trump explained

See main article: Political appointments by Donald Trump.

Color key

Denotes appointees serving in offices that did not require Senate confirmation.

Denotes appointees confirmed by the Senate.

Denotes appointees awaiting Senate confirmation.

Denotes appointees serving in an acting capacity.

Denotes appointees who have left office or offices which have been disbanded.

Denotes nominees who were withdrawn prior to being confirmed or assuming office.

Appointments

Department of the Army

See main article: United States Department of the Army.

Department of the Navy

See main article: United States Department of the Navy.

OfficeNomineeAssumed officeLeft office

Kenneth Braithwaite[36] 		May 29, 2020

Robert Sander[37] 		January 6, 2020
Under Secretary of the Navy
Greg Slavonic[38] 		April 24, 2020[39]

Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Manpower and Reserve Affairs)		June 11, 2018

Catherine Kessmeier[40] 		June 24, 2020

Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Energy, Installations and Environment)
Charles Williams[41] 		April 24, 2020

Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Financial Management and Comptroller)
Thomas Harker		January 2, 2018

Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Research, Development and Acquisition)
James Geurts		December 5, 2017
United States Naval Academy

Members of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy		Anthony W. Parker[42]
George Gould

Ronny Jackson

Sean Spicer
Jonathan D. Hiler[43]

Department of the Air Force

See main article: United States Department of the Air Force.

Previous officeholders

data-sort-type="text" Officedata-sort-type="text" Namedata-sort-type="date" Took officedata-sort-type="date" Left officeNotes

Secretary of Defense
James Mattis		January 20, 2017December 31, 2018President Trump tweeted that General Mattis would be "retiring" at the end of February 2019; however, Mattis wrote a strongly worded resignation letter rebuking Trump foreign policy behavior, and thus became the first ever Secretary of Defense to resign in protest. Days later, Trump tweeted that Deputy Secretary Patrick Shanahan would become Acting Secretary on January 1, 2019, two months earlier than Mattis's original departure date.

Patrick M. Shanahan		January 1, 2019June 23, 2019Shanahan withdrew from consideration for Secretary of Defense.[53]

Deputy Secretary of Defense		July 19, 2017January 1, 2019Became Acting Secretary of Defense.

Robert O. Work		May 1, 2014 July 14, 2017

Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense
Kevin M. Sweeney		January 23, 2017January 5, 2019[54]

Eric Chewning		January 6, 2019January 31, 2020[55]
Jen StewartFebruary 1, 2020November 10, 2020Stewart was replaced by Kash Patel, who was involved in the Trump–Ukraine scandal

Director of Communications to the Secretary of Defense
Guy Snodgrass		April 2017August 2018

Chief Management Officer of Defense.
John H. Gibson		February 21, 2018November 30, 2018Submitted resignation on November 5, 2018.

Deputy Chief Management Officer of Defense		November 29, 2017February 21, 2018Became Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense.

Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
Robert Daigle		August 7, 2017 May 18, 2019

Under Secretary of Defense
(Acquisition and Sustainment)
Jimmy MacStravic		January 20, 2017 August 7, 2017

Under Secretary of Defense
(Comptroller)
David Norquist		June 2, 2017July 31, 2019Became the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Elaine McCusker		July 31, 2019June 26, 2020Nominated to serve as the permanent Comptroller but on March 2, 2020, it was reported that her nomination was being withdrawn by the White House. This followed reports that in 2019 McCusker had warned that freezing military aid to Ukraine might not be legal.[56]

Under Secretary of Defense
(Personnel and Readiness)
Anthony Kurta		January 20, 2017 November 30, 2017

Robert Wilkie		November 30, 2017July 30, 2018Became the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Stephanie Barna		July 30, 2018October 22, 2018

James N. Stewart		October 22, 2018December 13, 2019[57]

Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Manpower and Reserve Affairs)		October 22, 2018December 13, 2019

Stephanie Barna		January 20, 2017October 22, 2018

Under Secretary of Defense
(Policy)
Theresa Whelan		January 20, 2017June 5, 2017

David Trachtenberg		October 27, 2017 January 8, 2018

John Rood		January 9, 2018February 28, 2020[58]

James Anderson		March 1, 2020November 10, 2020Fired the day after Secretary Mark Esper and replaced by Anthony Tata. Tata's 2018 confirmation hearing was cancelled after he referred to President Obama as a "terrorist leader".[59] [60]

Under Secretary of Defense
(Intelligence)
Joseph D. Kernan		December 1, 2017November 10, 2020Resigned the day after Secretary Mark Esper was fired.[61]

Under Secretary of Defense
(Research and Engineering)
Michael D. Griffin		February 19, 2018July 10, 2020[62]

Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Logistics and Materiel Readiness)
Robert H. McMahon		November 30, 2017August 15, 2018Resigned to become Assistant Secretary of Defense (Sustainment).

Assistant Secretary of Defense
(International Security Affairs)
Robert Karem		June 7, 2017October 31, 2018

Kathryn L. Wheelbarger		October 31, 2018July 4, 2020Resigned after the White House abruptly nixed her nomination for the permanent Assistant Secretary role over White House concerns that she was not loyal enough to the president.[63]

Assistant to the Secretary of Defense
(Public Affairs)
Dana W. White		January 20, 2017December 31, 2018The Pentagon spokeswoman was being investigated by the Inspector General when she resigned.[64]

Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs)
Guy B. Roberts		November 30, 2017 April 2, 2019Resigned as a result of a sexual harassment probe.[65]

Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict)
Owen West		December 27, 2017 June 22, 2019[66]

Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Legislative Affairs)
Robert R. Hood		August 8, 2017July 25, 2020[67]

Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Indo-Pacific Security Affairs)
Randall Schriver		January 8, 2018December 12, 2019

Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Steven H. Walker		November 13, 2017January 10, 2020Became Chief Technology Officer of Lockheed Martin.[68]

Secretary of the Air Force
Heather Wilson		May 16, 2017May 31, 2019Resigned to become president of the University of Texas at El Paso.[69]

Matthew Donovan		June 1, 2019 October 18, 2019Under Secretary Donovan was Acting Air Force Secretary until the confirmation of Barbara Barrett.

Under Secretary of the Air Force		August 3, 2017December 27, 2019Left to serve as Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness).

Lisa Disbrow		February 24, 2016 June 30, 2017

Secretary of the Army		January 20, 2017August 2, 2017

Ryan McCarthy		August 3, 2017November 20, 2017
June 23, 2019July 15, 2019McCarthy was Acting Army Secretary while Esper was Acting Defense Secretary. When Esper was confirmed as Defense Secretary, McCarthy became Acting Army Secretary yet again. On September 26, 2019, the Senate confirmed McCarthy as Army Secretary.

Mark Esper		November 20, 2017July 23, 2019

Secretary of Defense		June 23, 2019July 15, 2019
July 23, 2019November 9, 2020[70]

Richard Spencer		July 15, 2019July 23, 2019President Trump appointed Esper Acting Defense Secretary and nominated him for Defense Secretary. By law, Esper could not serve as Acting Secretary during the confirmation process, so Spencer was Acting Defense Secretary for a brief period.

Secretary of the Navy		August 3, 2017November 24, 2019Forced out after clashing with President Trump over disciplining Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher.[71] [72]

Sean Stackley		January 20, 2017 August 3, 2017

Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Research, Development and Acquisition)		July 28, 2008 August 3, 2017

Secretary of the Navy
Thomas Modly		November 25, 2019April 7, 2020Resigned after the controversial removal of USS Theodore Roosevelt Captain Brett Crozier.[73]

Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Installations and Environment)
Phyllis L. Bayer		February 20, 2018March 30, 2019

Department of Defense Inspector General
Glenn Fine		January 14, 2016April 7, 2020Fine had been appointed the chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee nine days before his dismissal. This committee oversaw the distribution of $2.2 trillion under the CARES Act.[74] [75]

Member of the Defense Science Board
James N. Miller		2014June 2, 2020Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Resigned in protest after law enforcement officers used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse lawfully assembled protesters outside the White House.[76]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation: Mark T. Esper, of Virginia, to be Secretary of Defense) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
  2. Web site: Lisa W. Hershman, Deputy Chief Management Officer. defense.gov. May 2, 2018.
  3. Web site: PN970 – Nomination of Lisa W. Hershman for Department of Defense, 116th Congress (2019–2020). July 22, 2019. www.congress.gov. July 23, 2019.
  4. News: DOD chief management officer resigns . Tony . Bertuca . November 9, 2018 . insidedefense.com . December 3, 2018.
  5. Web site: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Paul C. Ney Jr. of Tennessee to be the General Counsel of the Department of Defense . whitehouse.gov. National Archives. January 13, 2018.
  6. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation Paul C. Ney, of Tennessee, to be General Counsel of the Department of Defense) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
  7. Web site: PN1714 – Nomination of Jason Abend for Department of Defense, 116th Congress (2019–2020). April 6, 2020. www.congress.gov. April 24, 2020.
  8. Web site: Sean O'Donnell. www.dodig.mil. April 24, 2020.
  9. Web site: Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts. whitehouse.gov. National Archives. June 25, 2019.
  10. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation: General Mark A. Milley to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
  11. Web site: PN585 – Nomination of Gen. John E. Hyten for Air Force, 116th Congress (2019–2020). September 26, 2019. www.congress.gov. February 19, 2020.
  12. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation: John E. Hyten to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and for Appointment in the U.S. Air Force to the grade of General while Assigned.) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
  13. Web site: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts. June 26, 2018. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. June 26, 2018.
  14. Web site: PN1342 – Nomination of Kevin Fahey for Department of Defense, 115th Congress (2017–2018). January 8, 2018. www.congress.gov. January 13, 2018.
  15. Web site: Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts. February 13, 2020. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. February 19, 2020.
  16. News: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts. September 2, 2017 . . . September 2, 2017.
  17. Web site: Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. March 28, 2018.
  18. Web site: March 2, 2020. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. March 5, 2020.
  19. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation: James H. Anderson, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
  20. Web site: March 2, 2020. PN1604 – Nomination of Victor G. Mercado for Department of Defense, 116th Congress (2019–2020). March 5, 2020. www.congress.gov.
  21. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation: Victor G. Mercado, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
  22. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation Kenneth P. Rapuano, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Defense) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
  23. Web site: DOD Establishes Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. October 30, 2020. www.defense.gov. November 1, 2020.
  24. Web site: David F. Helvey. www.defense.gov. January 29, 2020.
  25. Web site: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate the Following Individuals to Key Administration Posts. whitehouse.gov. National Archives. February 26, 2020.
  26. Web site: January 28, 2020. Department of Defense Key Officials: September 1947–January 2020. 52. July 31, 2020. history.defense.gov.
  27. Web site: Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. February 29, 2020.
  28. Web site: Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness. February 29, 2020.
  29. Web site: PN390 – Nomination of Christopher Scolese for Department of Defense, 116th Congress (2019–2020). February 12, 2019. www.congress.gov. June 20, 2019.
  30. Web site: Trump Nominates RD James for Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works – The Levee Was Dry. October 4, 2017. January 13, 2018.
  31. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation R. D. James, of Missouri, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
  32. Web site: President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration. National Archives. whitehouse.gov.
  33. Web site: PN1346 – Nomination of Alex A. Beehler for Department of Defense, 115th Congress (2017–2018). January 8, 2018. www.congress.gov. January 13, 2018.
  34. Web site: PN2046 – Nomination of Casey Wardynski for Department of Defense, 115th Congress (2017–2018). June 4, 2018. www.congress.gov. June 5, 2018.
  35. Web site: Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts. July 31, 2019 . National Archives. whitehouse.gov. December 16, 2019.
  36. News: Meet Kenneth Braithwaite, pick for Navy secretary, and staunch Trump ally. Gould. Joe. November 27, 2019. DefenseNews. December 3, 2019.
  37. Web site: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts. August 26, 2019. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. August 26, 2019.
  38. Web site: December 11, 2017. PN1317 – Nomination of Gregory J. Slavonic for Department of Defense, 115th Congress (2017–2018). January 13, 2018. www.congress.gov.
  39. Web site: Gregory J. Slavonic. June 24, 2020. www.navy.mil. July 25, 2020.
  40. Web site: Catherine L. Kessmeier. June 26, 2020. www.navy.mil. July 25, 2020.
  41. Web site: December 2, 2019. PN1310 – Nomination of Charles Williams for Department of Defense, 116th Congress (2019–2020). December 3, 2019. www.congress.gov.
  42. Web site: Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Post 2/27/2018. whitehouse.gov. National Archives. March 1, 2018.
  43. Web site: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts. en-US. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. 2020-03-30.
  44. Web site: PN1042 – Nomination of Barbara McConnell Barrett for Department of Defense, 116th Congress (2019–2020). September 9, 2019 . www.congress.gov . September 10, 2019.
  45. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation Barbara McConnell Barrett, of Arizona, to be Secretary of the Air Force) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
  46. Web site: Trump Taps Ex-Military Judge As Air Force Legal Chief. March 8, 2018.
  47. Web site: January 8, 2018. PN1343 – Nomination of William Roper for Department of Defense, 115th Congress (2017–2018). January 13, 2018. www.congress.gov.
  48. News: Liang. John. August 1, 2017. Trump names nominee for Air Force installations chief. Inside Defense. August 14, 2017.
  49. Web site: John A. Fedrigo. www.af.mil. April 19, 2020.
  50. Web site: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts. July 23, 2018. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. July 24, 2018.
  51. Web site: Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts. May 1, 2020. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. May 3, 2020.
  52. Web site: Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts. June 12, 2020. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. June 13, 2020.
  53. News: Shanahan Drops Out Of Running For Defense Secretary. Naylor. Brian. NPR. July 18, 2019. June 18, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190618205537/https://www.npr.org/2019/06/18/733736180/shanahan-drops-out-of-running-for-defense-secretary. June 18, 2019. live.
  54. News: Who is Kevin Sweeney? Pentagon Chief of Staff Resigns Days After Mattis' Departure. Zhao. Christina. Newsweek. January 5, 2019. January 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190106204403/https://www.newsweek.com/who-kevin-sweeney-pentagon-chief-staff-resigns-days-after-mattis-departure-1280547. January 6, 2019. live.
  55. News: Defense secretary's chief of staff to step down. Morgan. Wesley. O'Brien. Connor. Politico. January 6, 2020. January 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200112214327/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/06/defense-secretary-chief-of-staff-094717. January 12, 2020. live.
  56. News: Pentagon official who questioned Ukraine aid freeze resigns. Seligman. Lara. Politico. June 17, 2020. June 17, 2020.
  57. News: Pentagon's Policy Chief Under Fire as Senior Officials Head for the Exits. Seligman. Lara. Foreign Policy. December 18, 2019. December 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191220001420/https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/12/18/pentagon-policy-chief-john-rood-under-fire-senior-officials-leave/. December 20, 2019. live.
  58. News: Top Pentagon policy official resigns at Trump's request . Sciutto . Jim . Jim Sciutto . Starr . Barbara . Barbara Starr . Cohen . Zachary . . February 19, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201029040019/https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/19/politics/john-rood-pentagon-official-depart/index.html . October 29, 2020.
  59. News: Martinez . Luis . Day after defense secretary fired, top Pentagon policy official resigns . . 10 November 2020 . en . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201111002655/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/day-defense-secretary-fired-top-pentagon-policy-official/story?id=74131109 . 11 November 2020.
  60. Web site: Fang. Lee. 2020-11-11. Another Official Dismissed at the Pentagon as Trump Continues Unusual Shake-Up. 2020-11-14. The Intercept. en.
  61. Web site: Homan . Timothy R. . Pentagon sees flurry of resignations after Trump ousts secretary . . 10 November 2020 . en . 10 November 2020.
  62. News: Pentagon's top technology officials resign. Mitchell. Ellen. The Hill. June 23, 2020.
  63. News: Senior Pentagon official resigns after White House nixes nomination for top job. Seligman. Lara. Lippman. Daniel. Politico. June 18, 2020. June 18, 2020.
  64. News: Who Is Dana White? Top Pentagon Spokeswoman Resigns on New Year's Eve Amid Internal Probe. Racke. Will. Newsweek. January 1, 2019. January 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190102171334/https://www.newsweek.com/dana-white-pentagon-defense-resign-1276510. January 2, 2019. live.
  65. News: Pentagon: Nuke official sexually harassed 3 women on his staff, resigns during probe. Vanden Brook. Tom. USA Today. December 12, 2019. June 18, 2020.
  66. News: Owen West resigns as assistant defense secretary for special operations. Schogol. Jeff. Task & Purpose. June 12, 2019. June 18, 2020.
  67. News: Pentagon Legislative Chief Calls It Quits. Detsch. Jack. Foreign Policydate=June 12, 2019. July 22, 2020.
  68. News: DARPA head resigns, moving on to industry. Aitoro. Jill. Defense News. December 17, 2019.
  69. News: U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson Plans To Resign. Kennedy. Merrit. NPR. March 8, 2019. March 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190310012456/https://www.npr.org/2019/03/08/701572155/u-s-air-force-secretary-heather-wilson-plans-to-resign. March 10, 2019. live.
  70. News: Trump fires Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. Barbara. Starr. Ryan. Browne. Nicole. Gaouette. CNN. November 9, 2020.
  71. Web site: Richard Spencer termination letter. November 24, 2019. November 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191125001322/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKLLjE8W4AA_rgo.jpg. November 25, 2019. live.
  72. News: Esper says Trump ordered him to allow Gallagher to keep his Trident pin and remain a SEAL. Starr. Barbara . Barbara Starr . Browne. Ryan. CNN. November 25, 2019. November 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191125171343/https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/25/politics/esper-spencer-aftermath/index.html. November 25, 2019. live.
  73. News: Modly Resigns As Acting Navy Chief After Firing Warship Skipper And Calling Him Stupid. Welna. David. NPR. April 7, 2020.
  74. News: Nakashima . Ellen . Ellen Nakashima . Trump removes inspector general who was to oversee $2 trillion stimulus spending . . April 8, 2020 . en . April 7, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201119094254/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-removes-inspector-general-who-was-to-oversee-2-trillion-stimulus-spending/2020/04/07/2f0c6cb8-78ea-11ea-9bee-c5bf9d2e3288_story.html . November 19, 2020.
  75. News: Trump removes inspector general overseeing $2 trillion coronavirus relief package days after he was appointed . Wilkie . Christina . Macias . Amanda . Amanda Macias . . April 7, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108221403/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/07/coronavirus-relief-trump-removes-inspector-general-overseeing-2-trillion-package.html . November 8, 2020.
  76. News: A letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper . Miller . James . . June 2, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201115021234/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/06/02/secretary-esper-you-violated-your-oath-aiding-trumps-photo-op-thats-why-im-resigning/?arc404=true . November 15, 2020.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of Department of Defense appointments by Donald Trump".

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