Friday, March 11, 2016

Senate Approves Eric Fanning As US Secretary of the Army

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday (10 March) backed the nomination of Eric Fanning to become US Secretary of the Army.
If confirmed by the full US Senate, Fanning will become the first openly gay head of any service in the US military. He was nominated by President Barack Obama back in September.
Fanning became Acting Secretary in October when John McHugh left the job. But Fanning stepped down as Acting Secretary in January after some senators said that his being Acting Secretary could violate rules while he is still undergoing the conformation process.
Fanning, 47, is already the highest ranking openly gay member of the Department of Defense. He is working, at least for now, in the office of the secretary of defense.
Fanning has had Defense Department jobs spanning several military branches. He has served as Air Force under secretary, deputy under secretary of the Navy and deputy chief management officer of the Navy.
He most recently had been acting under secretary of the Army and is a close civilian adviser to Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter.

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