Over the weekend, the USA Today-owned Tennessean reported that a source close to the selection process said that President Donald Trump is expected to pick Tennessee State Senator Mark Green, R-Clarksville, to be the next U.S. Army Secretary. Green is a former Army officer, West Point graduate, doctor and author of the book: My Night with Saddam.
Green, 52, is a physician who was deployed overseas three times while serving in the Army. While serving an an Army medic, Green was part of the specials operations team that captured former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The experience following the capture inspired Green to write his book.
After the military, Green founded emergency room management firm AlignMD which was bought by American Physician Partners in 2016.
Earlier this year, the State Senator said that he had plans to run for Governor in the upcoming election but those plans will changed if Green’s path towards Army Secretary continues.
If nominated by the President, Green will need to be confirmed by the Senate before taking on the role. The Tennessean reported that a source said Green has been going through standard background checks.
While no official announcement of the pick has been made, it is expected that Trump will also name Ryan McCarthy, former Army Ranger and staffer under former Secretary of Defense Bob Gates, as Green’s undersecretary.
In December 2015, Sen. Green wrote an op-ed for American Military News about the Syrian refugee crisis.
The rumors of Trump’s new pick come after Vincent Viola dropped his nomination for the position in early February. The billionaire and Florida Panthers hockey team owner withdrew citing business conflicts.
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