Trump names choice for Army secretary

The White House on April 7 announced the president's intent to nominate Mark Green to serve as Army secretary.

The announcement marks a second attempt to fill the service's top civilian post, following an early misstep. President Trump's first nominee for Army secretary, billionaire Vincent Viola, withdrew from consideration before confirmation proceedings could begin in the Senate, citing the difficulty of disentangling himself from business obligations.

The presidential transition team announced Trump's plan to nominate Viola in December, only to see the businessman withdraw on Feb. 3. Another rumored contender for the post, South Carolina politician Van Hipp, removed himself from consideration in February, citing "personal and professional commitments."

Green, a physician and health care executive, currently serves in the Tennessee Senate. He entered the 2018 gubernatorial race in January, filing paperwork with the state Registry of Election Finance and hiring a campaign manager, but deferring a formal announcement until the conclusion of the legislative session. He has served in the state senate since 2013.

A 1986 graduate of the United States Military Academy, Green served as a flight surgeon in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Ft. Campbell, KY. He published a 2010 book detailing his interview of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Prior assignments included leadership of rifle and scout platoons and command of an airborne rifle company in the 82nd Airborne Division.

He earned his medical degree from Wright State University.