The man replacing former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis sought Tuesday to reassure the country that it was still safe and secure under his leadership in his first official statement as Pentagon chief.
“Under the direction of President Trump, the Department of Defense remains focused on safeguarding our nation,” acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Tuesday via a statement.
Shanahan described the Pentagon’s “deep respect” for Mattis’ lifetime of service, adding it had been a privilege to be his deputy secretary.
“As acting secretary of defense, I now look forward to working with President Trump to carry out his vision alongside strong leaders including the service secretaries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the combatant commanders, and senior personnel in the Office of the Secretary of Defense,” Shanahan wrote. “The Department of Defense continues to be one of our nation’s bedrock institutions. Our foundational strength lies in the remarkable men and women who volunteer to serve our country and protect our freedoms, while making immense personal sacrifice. It is an honor to work with such a dedicated team committed to the greatness of our nation.”
In December, Trump announced in a tweet that Shanahan would be stepping in for Mattis on Jan. 1 rather than the end of February, when Mattis was initially expected to leave.
Shanahan was nominated to the Pentagon’s second-highest civilian position in March last year and was confirmed by the Senate that July. He has, in recent weeks, played a key role in drafting DoD’s budget proposals under changing demands from Trump. The graduate of University of Washington and Massachusetts Institute of Technology was previously an executive with Boeing.
