The president will nominate Eric Fanning to take over as the next secretary of the Army, making him the first openly gay service secretary if he is confirmed by the Senate, the White House announced on Friday.
Fanning has served as the acting undersecretary of the Army since June. Prior to that, he served as the chief of staff to Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.
“These fine public servants bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their important roles. I look forward to working with them,” President Obama said in a statement announcing several nominations, including Fanning’s.
Fanning will still need to be confirmed by the Senate before taking over as the Army’s top civilian.
If approved, he would lead the service at a time where the Army is looking at cutting an additional 40,000 soldiers from its ranks under a tight budget environment as the country faces numerous threats from theaters all around the world.
John McHugh, who currently serves as the secretary of the Army, had previously announced that he would leave the post no later than November.
