The Pentagon is headed by the 'enemy' of Russia: what is known about Mark Espera

The Senate of the US Congress approved the candidacy of Mark Esper for the post of Minister of Defense of the country nominated by President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Photo: Facebook /The White House

In the near future, Esper will be sworn in as the new head of the Pentagon, writes News.Ru. On the appointment of Esper acting head of defense, Trump announced after the main contender for this post, Patrick Shanahan at the end of June, took the challenge. Shanahan served as the head of the US Department of Defense since January this year in connection with the resignation of James Mattis, reports TASS.

The disqualification of Shanahan took place against the background of a scandal with accusations of domestic violence. The incident occurred yet 28 August 2010 of the year. Then Shanahan and his wife, Kimberly Jordsins, had a falling out after drinking alcohol. The police who arrived at the spouses' house arrested Jordinson, who had called her, and not Shanahan. Subsequently, the charges of domestic violence against her were dropped.

Shanahan assured in a written statement that he had never assaulted his ex-wife. “My marriage ended in sadness and disappointment. However, I never laid a hand on my ex-wife and fully cooperated with the law enforcement investigation that resulted in her being charged with assaulting me. I [then] declined to press these charges in the best interests of the family," Shanahan, 56, said in a statement.

By topic: Pentagon: riddles of the world's largest office building

James Mattis left the post of head of the Pentagon because of disagreements with US President Donald Trump. The announcement of the resignation of Mattis was made the day after Trump announced the prompt and immediate withdrawal of US troops from Syria. Mattis repeatedly tried to dissuade the president from this decision, as well as from plans to build a wall on the border with Mexico. Another reason for the resignation were disagreements related to Washington’s policies regarding Moscow and Beijing.

“I believe that we must be decisive <...> in our approach to those countries whose strategic interests increasingly diverge from ours, creating tension,” said the letter from Mattis, who believed that the Russian Federation and China were seeking “veto power.” on the decisions of other states in the areas of economics, diplomacy and security in order to promote their own interests.”

"Enemy" of Russia

Mark Esper was born 26 on April 1964 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. In 1986, he graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point, New York). As part of the 101 Airborne Division took part in the fighting in Iraq during the Gulf War (1990-1991). Subsequently, he commanded a company in the 3 Battalion of the 325 Regiment of the 82 Airborne Division deployed in Vicenza (Italy).

At 1995, Esper earned a master’s degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Management at Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts). After 12 years, he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

On the subject: Three new inventions of the Pentagon in the field of military technology. A PHOTO

In 2008, Mark Esper defended his doctoral dissertation on “The Role of Congress in the Development of US Strategic Nuclear Forces, 1947-1968.” at George Washington University (Washington, DC).

In 1998-2002 Marc Esper was a full-time employee of the Senate Foreign Relations and Government Affairs Committee, as well as a senior political advisor to Republican Senator Chuck Hagel. In 2002-2004 The retired officer worked in the administration of President George W. Bush, was deputy assistant secretary of defense, and was responsible for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, arms control and international security.

In 2004-2006 Esper was national security adviser to the leader of the Republican majority in the Senate, Bill Frist. In 2006-2007 the former military man served as executive director and vice president for defense and international relations at the Association of Aerospace Industry (organization of manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military and business aviation).

In 2008-2010 Esper is executive vice president of the Center for Global Innovation Policy and vice president of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Then, until 2017, he was vice president of government relations at the military-industrial company Raytheon (one of the largest suppliers of weapons and military equipment for the US Armed Forces and allied countries).

Photo: Facebook / The White House

19 July 2017. President Donald Trump nominated Esper for the post of Minister of the United States Army (a civilian post under the Minister of Defense; oversees the livelihoods of the ground forces, including the maintenance of military infrastructure and communications, hiring personnel, purchasing weapons, guarding military facilities) . After approval by the Senate took office on November 20.

24 June 2019 Mr. Esper took the post of acting head of the defense department due to the fact that Patrick Shanahan, who was the Acting Actor. Secretary of Defense since January 1 2019, resigned for personal reasons.

15 July 2019 Mr. Trump submitted Esper's candidacy for the post of head of the Pentagon on a permanent basis. In this regard, 16 July Esper left the post of Acting Minister of Defense (according to the procedure, the person in the status of acting, can not take the position for which he was nominated). According to the American media, Esper’s candidacy was lobbied by Presidential Assistant for National Security John Bolton (they worked together in the Bush administration) and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo (studied together at West Point Academy).

Mark Esper has repeatedly spoken about the political situation in the world and presented his vision of future armed conflicts. So, he calls China and Russia strategic long-term US rivals.

“We live in an era of great power competition. China and Russia are our main problems. And so we must be able to fight a high-intensity conflict against Russia or China,” Esper said in an interview.

He believes that the main tasks of the Pentagon are to further increase the defense capability of the American army, strengthen ties with the allies, and reform the Pentagon. He believes that by 2028, the United States will be able to win any war from any country, while restraining pressure from other states.

Mark Esper has been awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Mark Esper got married in 1989. The family has three children.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Not worked out: who this year left the team Trump

In life, like in the movies: why the Pentagon and Hollywood collaborate

Putin warns of growing threat of nuclear war

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.