Esper confirmed as Army secretary

By Courtney McBride / November 15, 2017 at 1:47 PM

The Senate today confirmed Mark Esper to serve as Army secretary on an 89 to 6 vote, providing the Defense Department with a full complement of service secretaries.

Ryan McCarthy has served as acting secretary since Aug. 2, a day after his own confirmation as under secretary.

Esper appeared at a nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Nov. 2, calling for a "complete overhaul" of the acquisition system.

He served most recently as vice president of government relations at Raytheon. In ethics paperwork submitted July 26, Esper pledged to resign his post and divest all of his company stock within 90 days of confirmation.

"Until I have divested of these financial interests, I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter that to my knowledge has a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of Raytheon, unless I first obtain a written waiver," he wrote.

Esper went further at this month's hearing, pledging to recuse himself from matters involving Raytheon for a period of two years and not to seek waivers.

Prior to joining Raytheon, Esper previously held executive positions at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Aerospace Industries Association. Additionally, he has worked as a congressional staffer and as a deputy assistant secretary of defense.

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