Obama taps gay man to lead Army
WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama is nominating Eric Fanning, a close civilian adviser to Defense Secretary Ash Carter, to be the secretary of the Army, the White House said Friday. The appointment would make Fanning the first openly gay secretary of a military branch.
Fanning has been the acting undersecretary of the Army as the current secretary, John McHugh, prepares to leave his post. Fanning’s Defense Department jobs have spanned the services: he has served as Air Force undersecretary, deputy undersecretary of the Navy and deputy chief management officer of the Navy.
“I can’t think of any civilian with more experience with the services, having served in senior positions in all three,” said Derek Chollet, a former assistant defense secretary. “He under- stands all of their unique cultures and processes.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Fanning will help guide the country’s largest military service as it undertakes a sweeping integration of gay soldiers. While the Pentagon lifted a prohibition on openly gay service members in 2011, it continues to struggle with a culture in which such members said they feel uncomfortable.
As a civilian, Fanning never had to conform to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy governing gay service members, which was in place for more than 15 years. But his appointment demonstrates that Obama and Carter want to keep pushing the military toward more openness toward gay men and lesbians, an administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to speak freely.
The official noted that the administration has been working to eliminate barriers to military service based on sexuality or gender. Defense Department officials said they believe that the changes since the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” have largely been a success. —