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No place for racism, discrimination in U.S. military, Milley says
July 14, 2020 — Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper testified about the military role in wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis policemen in May... MORE

Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the House Armed Services Committee on the Defense Department’s authorities and roles in relation to civilian law enforcement, July 9, 2020.

SECDEF visits BMT, sees how citizens become Airmen during COVID-19
June 17, 2020 — U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper visited U.S. Air Force basic military training cadre and recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, as well as members of the Air Force Recruiting Service, for a first-hand look at how the service transforms citizens into American Airmen June 16... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Snow, 323rd Training Squadron military training instructor, briefs U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper during his tour of the 323rd Training Squadron's Airman Training Complex June 16, 2020, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Esper met with AETC leaders to see firsthand how Basic Military Training is fighting through COVID-19 with health protection measures in place and adapting operations to current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance. The visit also allowed him to witness how a citizen becomes an Airman during COVID-19.

DOD poised to provide masks, ventilators, labs for coronavirus fight
March 18, 2020 — The Defense Department will make available up to 5 million respirator masks and other personal protective equipment from its strategic reserves to the Department of Health and Human Services for distribution, DOD Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said during a news conference at the Pentagon March 18, adding that the first million masks would be made available immediately... MORE

Esper Becomes 27th Defense Secretary
July 24, 2019 — Dr. Mark T. Esper became the 27th defense secretary July 23 during an early evening White House swearing-in ceremony. Earlier in the day, by a 90-8 vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Esper to serve in the office... MORE

Then-Army Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper answers questions from members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during the confirmation hearing on his nomination to serve as secretary of defense July 16. Esper was confirmed as the 27th Secretary of Defense July 23.