In addition to naming David Norquist as the acting Secretary of Defense, and other acting secretaries for the Air Force, Army and Navy, the Biden administration brought on 25 more officials to serve in various Pentagon posts on Wednesday.
The Department of Defense provided the following list of individuals sworn in on Wednesday:
- Adil Ahmed, Attorney Advisor, Office of the General Counsel, Department of the Army
- Terry Adirim, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
- Scott Arceneaux, Special Assistant for White House Liaison Office
- Patricia Barron, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
- Susanna Blume, performing the duties of Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
- Tanya Bradsher, Senior Director for Partnerships and Global Engagement
- Melissa Dalton, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities
- Morgan Dwyer, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
- Beth Foster, Senior Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
- Beth George, Principal Deputy General Counsel
- Ozge Guzelsu, Deputy General Counsel (Legislation)
- Storm Horncastle, Residential Manager and Social Secretary of the Vice President
- Brian Katz, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence & Security)
- Jongsun Kim, Deputy Comptroller for Budget and Appropriations Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
- John Kirby, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
- Kelly Magsamen, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense
- Christopher Maier, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict
- Farouk Ophaso, Senior Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
- Ely Ratner, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (China)
- Eric Ridge, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development
- Max Rose, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Senior Advisor, COVID-19)
- Tommy Ross, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy, Department of the Navy
- Leonor Tomero, Deputy Assistant Director for Nuclear and Missile Defense Programs
- Veronica Valdez, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
- Matthew Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Senate Affairs
The Pentagon said the 25 officials were sworn in either in-person or virtually. The officials were sworn in during the transition at the Pentagon on Wednesday, as outgoing Trump administration officials left.
On Wednesday, John Roth became the acting Air Force Secretary. John Whitley, the head of Army financial management, became acting Army Secretary. Thomas Harker became the acting Navy Secretary.
Along with the Secretary of Defense, individual service secretaries are political appointments that require Senate confirmation. Norquist, Roth, Whitley and Harker are serving in temporary capacities while the Biden administration works to confirm nominees for various positions.
