Undersecretary could replace outgoing McHugh

Let's just pray to God he is more up to the challenge of preventing military suicides and getting the troops the help they need.

Undersecretary could replace outgoing McHugh
Army Times
Staff report
Posted : Monday Mar 4, 2013

Now that Chuck Hagel has been confirmed and sworn in as defense secretary, names are emerging for who might become his top lieutenants as service secretaries and undersecretaries.

Army Secretary John McHugh is expected to step down at some point during President Obama’s second term, according to defense sources. Joseph Westphal, the current Army undersecretary, has been mentioned as a candidate to become secretary.

Westphal was the secretary of the Army once before, in 2011, when he was appointed as acting secretary from March to May.

Before that, he served as assistant secretary of the Army for civil works from 1998 to 2001, in addition to many years in academia and as a policy adviser for the Environment Protection Agency during the Clinton administration. He served on Obama’s transition team for defense matters before his current post.

In May 2012, Westphal sat down with Army Times to discuss the issues he has dealt with as the Army’s No. 2 civilian, which could give some insight as to what he would pursue if appointed to the No. 1 position.

He spoke on sequestration, a show to which he could have a front-row seat if appointed secretary of the Army.
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