Senate Confirms Pete Geren as New Army Secretary

The Department of the Army has announced that the Honorable Pete Geren has been confirmed by the United States Senate as the 20^th Secretary of the United States Army. According to the Army's web site, the Secretary of the Army is the senior official of the Department of the Army, responsible for the effective and efficient functioning of the Army.

Mr. Geren was nominated by President George W. Bush and began serving in the position of Acting Secretary of the Army on March 9^th of this year. Prior to his nomination and confirmation as the 20^th Secretary, Mr. Geren was the 28^th Under Secretary of the Army, reporting directly to then secretary Francis J. Harvey. Mr. Harvey served as Secretary of the Army from November 19, 2004 until March 9, 2007. Mr. Geren took the position of Undersecretary on February 21^st of last year.

Mr. Geren has been with the U.S. Defense Department for nearly six years, including stints as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Acting Secretary of the Air Force. He has received higher education at Georgia Tech, the University of Texas (BA), and Texas Law School (JD).

According to the Army's web site, the Secretary of the Army has eight responsibilities: (1) advising the Secretary of Defense and the executive branch on the Army's capabilities and requirements; 2) presenting and justifying Army policies, plans, programs and budgets; 3) communicating Army policies, plans, programs, capabilities, and accomplishments to the American public; 4) tasking other elements as necessary to accomplish Army missions and functions; 5) convening meetings with Army leaders to debate issues, define and provide direction, and seek advice; 6) managing the external affairs and compliance functions of the Army; 7) prescribing the relationships of each office in the Secretariat and Army Staff to support the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; and 8) managing the civilian aides to the Secretary of the Army Program.