Retired Marine Robert Salesses Named Acting Defense Secretary as Hegseth Awaits Confirmation

Jan 20, 2025, 06:17 PM

Robert Salesses has been appointed as the acting Secretary of Defense, according to multiple U.S. defense officials and reports from NBC News. This appointment comes as President Donald Trump's nominee for the position, Pete Hegseth, awaits confirmation by the Senate Armed Services Committee. Salesses, who previously served as the Deputy Director of the Washington Headquarters Services and acting director of the Facilities Services Directorate, will assume the role until Hegseth is confirmed. A retired Marine Corps officer, Salesses began his federal civilian service career after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was most recently the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Defense Continuity and Mission Assurance under the Biden administration.