Esper served as an infantry officer with the 101st Airborne Division and deployed with the "Screaming Eagles" for the Persian Gulf War. After he was nominated to become Secretary of Defense, he said that being "transgender" is not an issue with him, stating that he has met several transgender servicemembers and was impressed with many of them. Esper holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a doctorate in Public Policy from George Washington University. Leah Esper is happily married to the current US Acting Secretary of Defence Mark Thomas Esper. He previously served as acting secretary of defense and was the 23rd United States secretary of the Army from 2017 to 2019. The president wrote, “I know Mark, and have no doubt he … Leah Esper with her Husband Mark Esper during a swearing-in ceremony. Several military officials said there was a lack of top-down planning and guidance on important decisions.In May 2020, at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the That same month, Esper declared that a widely available vaccine would be available by the end of 2020.
I was not aware of a photo op was happening," adding, "And look, I do everything I can to try to stay apolitical and try and stay out of situations that may appear political. Esper served on active duty for more than ten years before moving to the Army National Guard and later the Army Reserve, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He was a senior professional staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations and Senate Government Affairs committees, policy director for the House Armed Services Committee, and national security advisor for former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. He served as Acting Secretary of Defense from June 24, 2019, to July 15, 2019. He replied that "It really hasn't come up." Esper graduated from Laurel Highlands High School outside Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in 1982. He said people in the military with gender dysphoria would have their condition assessed and "in many cases", be offered waivers that would allow them to serve. He served as Vice President of government relations at Raytheon. Esper was a dean's list student at West Point and received the Douglas MacArthur Award for Leadership. He cited the United States Department of Defense's 2018 Report and Recommendations on Military Service by Transgender Persons, which claims that persons who have a history of gender dysphoria, who have undergone medical treatments for gender transition, or who are unable or unwilling to meet the military's standards associated with their biological sex, could hurt military readiness and effectiveness and should be evaluated to see whether they should be retained or expelled from service. Esper was a dean's list student at West Point and received the Douglas MacArthur Award for Leadership. He replied that "It really hasn't come up." Send in e-mail Send in e-mail. Like every other military family, Leah and Mike experienced lots of moving around. "According to multiple reports, on June 1, 2020, amid Esper participated in a June 1 call with state governors, Trump, and Barr, in which Trump urged governors to "dominate" and use aggressive methods.Two days later, at a Pentagon press conference, Esper said, regarding the Lafayette Park photo op, that, "Well, I did know that we were going to the church.
He previously served as acting secretary of defense and was the 23rd United States secretary of the Army from 2017 to 2019. Among his many military awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.Dr. Esper is a recipient of the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.