U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he intends to nominate Army Secretary Mark Esper to be secretary of defense, the White House said in a statement.
Esper takes over as acting defense secretary on Monday following the resignation of Patrick Shanahan, who is stepping down after media reports emerged this week of domestic violence in his family.
Esper served as an infantry officer with the 101st Airborne Division and deployed with the "Screaming Eagles" for the 1990–91 Gulf War. He was awarded Bronze Star for his service in the war.
worked as an aide on Capitol Hill, and spent seven years as vice president for government relations at defense contractor Raytheon.