| mawards = {{ublist|Legion of Merit|Bronze Star Medal|Meritorious Service Medal|Combat Infantryman Badge|Kuwait Liberation Medal{{cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=13 December 2024 |title=Mark Esper: About; The Pentagon |url=https://www.marktesper.com/about |website=marktesper.com |location=McLean, Virginia |publisher=Esper Group.net |access-date=}}}}

| footnotes = *McCarthy served in an acting capacity from June 24, 2019 to July 15, 2019, while Esper served as Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense.

| website = https://www.marktesper.com/

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=SecDef Mark Esper Speaks on the National Guard's Response to the George Floyd Protests and the Walk to St. John's Church.oga|title=Mark Esper's voice|type=speech|description=Mark Esper on the National Guard's response to the George Floyd riots and his role in the walk to St. John's Church
Recorded June 3, 2020}}

| commands = B/3-325 Airborne Battalion Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy

| military_blank1 = Military Schools: Airborne, Ranger, Pathfinder, Air Assault, Jungle Expert, Jumpmaster, Command & General Staff College

}}

Mark Thomas Esper (born April 26, 1964) is an American politician and manufacturing/high-tech executive who served as the 27th United States secretary of defense from 2019 to 2020. A member of the Republican Party, he had previously served as the 23rd U.S. secretary of the Army from November 2017 to July 2019.

A West Point graduate, Esper joined the United States Army and saw combat during the Gulf War as an infantry officer with the 101st Airborne Division. Esper subsequently served in the 82nd Airborne Division and the Army National Guard. After leaving military service, he served as chief of staff at the Heritage Foundation; a senior congressional staffer; a deputy assistant secretary of defense; and a senior executive for the Aerospace Industries Association, the Global Intellectual Property Center, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Immediately before joining the Trump administration, Esper worked as a senior leader at defense contractor Raytheon as its vice president of government relations.

In 2017, he joined the Trump administration as the 23rd secretary of the Army. In 2019, Esper was named acting defense secretary; he was confirmed shortly afterwards as the 27th defense secretary by the United States Senate with a vote of 90–8.{{Cite news | last1 = Youssef | first1 = Nancy A. | title = Mark Esper Sworn In as Defense Secretary |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/mark-esper-secures-enough-senate-votes-to-be-defense-secretary-11563899034 | date = July 23, 2019 | newspaper = Wall Street Journal | access-date = July 25, 2019 | archive-date = February 22, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222153652/https://www.wsj.com/articles/mark-esper-secures-enough-senate-votes-to-be-defense-secretary-11563899034 | url-status = live }} He was dismissed from the office by President Donald Trump by Twitter posting on November 9, 2020.

Early life and education

Esper was born on April 26, 1964,{{Cite web |url=http://www.heraldstandard.com/news/local_news/trump-nominating-uniontown-native-for-army-secretary/article_687d6178-43a7-51fd-bd32-95b1ea5efe4a.html | title = Trump nominating Uniontown native for Army secretary | Local News | work = The Herald-Standard | via = heraldstandard.com | url-access = subscription | date = August 17, 2017 | first = Frances Borsodi | last = Zajac | access-date = December 18, 2017 | archive-date = August 25, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825235837/http://www.heraldstandard.com/news/local_news/trump-nominating-uniontown-native-for-army-secretary/article_687d6178-43a7-51fd-bd32-95b1ea5efe4a.html | url-status = live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.allgov.com/news?news=860279 | title = Secretary of the Army: Who Is Mark Esper? | website = AllGov | access-date = July 23, 2019 | archive-date = June 3, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603131837/http://www.allgov.com/news?news=860279 | url-status = live }} in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, the son of Pauline "Polly" Reagan and Thomas Joseph Esper.{{Cite web |url=https://www.heraldstandard.com/new_today/uniontown-native-serves-country-as-secretary-of-the-army/article_4c2d2885-8cd0-54ed-820e-2e22d3fdf054.html | title = Uniontown native serves country as Secretary of the Army | first = Frances Borsodi | last = Zajac | newspaper = The Herald-Standard | date = March 8, 2018 | access-date = October 27, 2019 | archive-date = October 27, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027162350/https://www.heraldstandard.com/new_today/uniontown-native-serves-country-as-secretary-of-the-army/article_4c2d2885-8cd0-54ed-820e-2e22d3fdf054.html | url-status = live }} His father was a member of the Maronite Church.{{Cite news |url=https://www.heraldstandard.com/news/obituaries/thomas-joseph-esper/article_660d280f-61d9-5b41-b920-98f7205c166b.html | title = Thomas Joseph Esper | newspaper = The Herald-Standard | date = December 5, 2014 | url-access = registration | access-date = October 27, 2019 | archive-date = October 27, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027164139/https://www.heraldstandard.com/news/obituaries/thomas-joseph-esper/article_660d280f-61d9-5b41-b920-98f7205c166b.html | url-status = live }} His paternal grandfather was an immigrant from Lebanon, and his uncle was war journalist George Esper.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/pentagon-and-hanoi-defense-chiefs-trade-artifacts-of-soldiers-missing-from-vietnam-war|title=Pentagon and Hanoi defense chiefs trade artifacts of soldiers missing from Vietnam War|date=November 22, 2019|website=Washington Examiner|access-date=June 3, 2020|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603225938/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/pentagon-and-hanoi-defense-chiefs-trade-artifacts-of-soldiers-missing-from-vietnam-war|url-status=live}}

Esper graduated from Laurel Highlands High School outside Uniontown in 1982. He received his Bachelor of Science in engineering from the United States Military Academy in 1986. Esper was a dean's list student at West Point and received the Douglas MacArthur Award for Leadership.{{Cite news | last1 = Ekas | first1 = Cindy | title = Laurel Highlands lauds alumni's achievements |url=http://triblive.com/news/fayette/4627946-74/degree-garrow-highlands | access-date = September 25, 2017 | newspaper = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | publisher = Trib Total Media | via = Trib LIVE (triblive.com) | date = September 7, 2017 | archive-date = September 26, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926041924/http://triblive.com/news/fayette/4627946-74/degree-garrow-highlands | url-status = live }} He received a master's degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School in 1995 and a doctorate in public policy from George Washington University in 2008.{{Cite news | last1 = Hubler | first1 = David | title = Raytheon adds defense expert to lead government relations unit |url=https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2010/07/16/raytheon-defense-expert-government-relations-unit.aspx | work = Washington Technology | date = July 16, 2010 | language = en | access-date = July 21, 2017 | archive-date = August 30, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830015356/https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2010/07/16/raytheon-defense-expert-government-relations-unit.aspx | url-status = live }}

Career

Esper served as an infantry officer with the 101st Airborne Division and deployed with the "Screaming Eagles" for the Gulf War.{{Cite web |last=Sisk |first=Richard |date=2019-07-01 |title=As a Young Officer in Desert Storm, Mark Esper Showed Flair for Leadership |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/07/01/young-officer-desert-storm-mark-esper-showed-flair-leadership.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Military.com |language=en}} His battalion—the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, the "Rakkasans"—was part of the famous "Hail Mary" deep into southern Iraq that helped lead to the defeat of the Iraqi Army.[https://www.wearethemighty.com/news/this-is-what-you-need-to-know-about-mark-esper-the-new-army-secretary Eric Milzarski (Nov. 17, 2017) This is what you need to know about Mark Esper, the new Army Secretary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023225342/https://www.wearethemighty.com/news/this-is-what-you-need-to-know-about-mark-esper-the-new-army-secretary |date=October 23, 2019}}: Served in 3-187th Infantry battalion.{{Cite web |last=Sisk |first=Richard |date=2019-07-01 |title=As a Young Officer in Desert Storm, Mark Esper Showed Flair for Leadership |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/07/01/young-officer-desert-storm-mark-esper-showed-flair-leadership.html |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Military.com |language=en}} He later commanded an airborne rifle company in Europe and served as an Army fellow at the Pentagon.{{Cite news |last1=Basinger |first1=Rachel |title=Laurel Highlands to honor Hall of Fame inductees |url=http://triblive.com/news/fayette/4622699-74/highlands-laurel-medical |work=TribLIVE |date=August 31, 2013 |access-date=July 21, 2017 |archive-date=August 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830012603/http://triblive.com/news/fayette/4622699-74/highlands-laurel-medical |url-status=live }} Esper served on active duty for more than ten years before moving to the Army National Guard and later the Army Reserve, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.{{Cite news |last1=Shane III |first1=Leo |title=Trump to nominate Raytheon VP, Gulf War vet as next Army secretary |url=http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/trump-nominate-esper-army-secretary |work=Military Times |date=July 19, 2017 |access-date=July 21, 2017 |archive-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720060851/http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/trump-nominate-esper-army-secretary |url-status=live}} According to his memoir and personal website, Esper is Ranger, Airborne, Air Assault, Jumpmaster, and Pathfinder qualified, and completed Army courses ranging from Jungle Expert in Panama to the Command & General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.{{Cite web |title=Dr. Mark T. Esper |url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/article/1378166/dr-mark-t-esper/https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1378166/dr-mark-t-esper/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |date=May 2022 |publisher=William Morrow |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=34}} Esper is a two-time recipient of the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. Among his military awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Esper was chief of staff at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, from 1996 to 1998.{{Cite news |title=U.S. Chamber Bolsters Its Europe-Eurasia Team |url=https://www.uschamber.com/press-release/us-chamber-bolsters-its-europe-eurasia-team |work=U.S. Chamber of Commerce |date=November 20, 2008 |language=en |access-date=July 21, 2017 |archive-date=August 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830020204/https://www.uschamber.com/press-release/us-chamber-bolsters-its-europe-eurasia-team |url-status=live}} From 1998 to 2002, Esper served as a senior professional staffer for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. He was also a senior policy advisor and legislative director for U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel. He was policy director for the House Armed Services Committee from 2001 to 2002. From 2002 to 2004, Esper served in George W. Bush's administration as deputy assistant secretary of defense for negotiations policy, where he was responsible for a broad range of nonproliferation, arms control and international security issues. He was director for national security affairs for the U.S. Senate under Majority Leader Bill Frist from 2004 to 2006.File:EsperMark.jpgEsper was executive vice president at the Aerospace Industries Association in 2006 and 2007. From September 2007 to February 2008, Esper served as national policy director to U.S. Senator Fred Thompson in his 2008 presidential campaign. During that same period, Esper was a Senate-appointed commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.{{Cite web |title=Dr. Mark T. Esper |url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1378166/dr-mark-t-esper/https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1378166/dr-mark-t-esper/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=www.defense.gov |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |title=Hearing: China's Views of Sovereignty and Methods of Access Control {{!}} U.S.- CHINA {{!}} ECONOMIC and SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION |url=https://www.uscc.gov/hearings/hearing-chinas-views-sovereignty-and-methods-access-control |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=www.uscc.gov}} From 2008 to 2010, Esper served as executive vice president of the Global Intellectual Property Center and vice president for Europe and Eurasia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He was hired as vice president of government relations at defense contractor Raytheon in July 2010.{{Cite news |title=Raytheon Names Mark T. Esper Vice President of Government Relations |url=http://investor.raytheon.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=84193&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1448598 |access-date=September 25, 2017 |publisher=Raytheon |website=Raytheon: Investors: Investor Relations |via=investor.raytheon.com |date=July 16, 2010 |archive-date=May 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511030425/http://investor.raytheon.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=84193&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1448598 |url-status=live}} Esper was recognized as a top corporate lobbyist by The Hill in 2015 and 2016.{{Cite news |last1=Dickson |first1=Rebecca |title=Top Lobbyists 2015: Corporate |url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/top-lobbyists/258460-top-lobbyists-2015-corporate/ |newspaper=The Hill |date=October 29, 2015 |access-date=July 21, 2017 |archive-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901091557/http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/top-lobbyists/258460-top-lobbyists-2015-corporate |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last1=Dickson |first1=Rebecca |title=Top Lobbyists 2016: Corporate |url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/top-lobbyists/302782-top-lobbyists-2016-corporate/ |newspaper=The Hill |date=October 26, 2016 |access-date=July 21, 2017 |archive-date=July 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727223921/http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/top-lobbyists/302782-top-lobbyists-2016-corporate |url-status=live}} Esper's departure from Raytheon included a deferred compensation package after 2022.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-defense-secretary-mark-esper-859988/|title=Trump's Pick for Defense Secretary Is as Swampy as You'd Expect|last1=Bort|first1=Ryan|date=July 17, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=March 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309060835/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-defense-secretary-mark-esper-859988/|url-status=live}}

Secretary of the Army

President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Esper as Secretary of the Army on June 19, 2017.{{Cite news | last1 = McIntyre | first1 = Jamie | title = Exclusive: Trump to nominate Mark Esper as Army secretary |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/exclusive-trump-to-nominate-mark-esper-as-army-secretary/article/2629074 | work = Washington Examiner | date = July 19, 2017 | language = en | access-date = July 20, 2017 | archive-date = July 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720023957/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/exclusive-trump-to-nominate-mark-esper-as-army-secretary/article/2629074 | url-status = live }} He was Trump's third nominee for the position, following the withdrawals of Vincent Viola and Mark E. Green.{{Cite news | last1 = Gibbons-Neff | first1 = Thomas | last2 = Jaffe | first2 = Greg | title = Trump to nominate Raytheon lobbyist for next Army secretary |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/07/19/trump-to-nominate-raytheon-lobbyist-for-next-army-secretary/ | newspaper=The Washington Post | date = July 19, 2017 | access-date = July 21, 2017 | archive-date = July 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720141919/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/07/19/trump-to-nominate-raytheon-lobbyist-for-next-army-secretary/ | url-status = live }} He was confirmed to this post by an 89–6 vote of the U.S. Senate on November 15, 2017{{Cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/811 | title = PN811 – Mark T. Esper – Department of Defense | date = November 15, 2017 | website = U.S. Congress | access-date = November 16, 2017 | archive-date = November 17, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117001415/https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/811 | url-status = live }} and sworn in on November 20, 2017.

During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in November 2017, Esper said that he would have three priorities as Army secretary: readiness, modernization (including of the military acquisition process and personnel system), and efficiency. He identified taking care of Soldiers, their families, and Department of the Army civilians as an enduring priority.{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=November 2, 2017 |title=Dr. Mark T. Esper, Nomination Hearing for Secretary of the Army, Opening Statement Before the Senate Armed Services Committee |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Esper_11-02-17.pdf |website=U.S. Senate, Committee on Armed Services}}{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=November 2, 2017 |title=Full Committee Hearing On Nominations: Esper, Wilkie, Kernan, Roberts |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/17-11-02-nominations_--esper---wilkie---kernan---roberts |website=U.S. Senate, Committee on Armed Services}}

=The Army Vision=

In mid-2018, Esper published a new Army [https://www.army.mil/e2/downloads/rv7/vision/the_army_vision.pdf?_st Vision] that outlined the goals he wanted to achieve by 2028, as well as the ways and means to get there. The Vision focused the service on China as the pacing threat in a future high-intensity conflict. The top line goals were growing the force to more than 500,000 active-duty soldiers, building a talent-based "perform or out" personnel system, re-engineering the Army acquisition system by establishing a "Futures Command" to modernize the force, and scouring the service's budget to pay for these improvements.{{Cite web |title=Army Secretary Esper announces 'Army Vision' for 2028 |url=https://www.army.mil/article/206488/army_secretary_esper_announces_army_vision_for_2028 |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=www.army.mil |date=June 6, 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2018-06-07 |title=The Army released a new vision statement — here are 3 things soldiers need to know |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/06/06/the-army-released-a-new-vision-statement-here-are-3-things-soldiers-need-to-know/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=Army Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Sydney J. Freedberg |date=2018-06-06 |title=Army Sec. Esper's 10-Year Plan Is A Big Bet On Budget |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2018/06/sec-esper-10-year-plan-is-a-big-bet-on-budget/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}

=Recruiting reform=

File:Army Secretary Esper at AUSA Conference in 2018 (US Army photo).jpg

After missing its recruiting goal in 2017, Esper and his leadership team pursued an overhaul of the service's recruiting enterprise, with a stated focus on growing the force and emphasizing quality over quantity.{{Cite web |last=Sisk |first=Richard |date=2018-04-21 |title=Goal of 80,000 Recruits Won't Be Met, Army Secretary Says |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/04/21/goal-80000-recruits-year-wont-be-met-army-secretary-says.html |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Military.com |language=en}} The second part of this approach entailed a series of actions aimed at raising recruit standards, such as limiting waivers for applicants with histories of drug use, bad conduct, or mental health issues, and reducing by half the number of recruits that came from the lowest quality tier.{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2018-07-31 |title=The Army is tightening waiver authority for recruits with issues like self-mutilation, misconduct and substance abuse |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/07/30/the-army-is-tightening-waiver-authority-for-recruits-with-issues-like-self-mutilation-misconduct-and-substance-abuse/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Army Times |language=en}} At the same time, the Army hired a new marketing firm to refresh its overall approach with a business-like focus on specific objectives.{{Cite web |last=Office |first=U. S. Government Accountability |title=Army Marketing: The Army Has Taken Recent Actions That Could Improve Program Oversight, Effectiveness, and Workforce Practices {{!}} U.S. GAO |url=https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-93 |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=www.gao.gov |language=en}} This was complemented by an Army push into online outreach and a variety of social media, such as an Army eSports and CrossFit team, all of which helped Army recruiting during the COVID pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=George |date=2019-08-07 |title=Yes, the Army encourages this sergeant to play video games all day (for recruiting purposes) |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-esports-team/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Task & Purpose |language=en-US}} Esper also brought back the World War II–era "pinks and greens" uniform—the iconic Army attire of the greatest generation—as a rebranding initiative and morale booster for recruiters.{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2018-11-12 |title=It's official: Army approves 'pinks and greens' uniform on Veterans Day |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/11/11/for-veterans-day-the-army-has-a-present-a-long-awaited-new-service-uniform/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Army Times |language=en}} In late 2018, the Army developed a "22 City" initiative that put a recruiting focus on major U.S. cities that were traditionally underserved, had little interaction with the U.S. military, and produced a lower-than-expected number of recruits annually. The aim was to expand these markets by dramatically increasing the number of Army recruiters, advertising, and visits by senior Army leaders. All of these initiatives began seeing positive results by mid-2019.{{Cite web |last=Sisk |first=Richard |date=2018-10-10 |title=Army to Target 22 Cities, Add 700 Recruiters to Boost Enlistments |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/10/09/army-target-22-cities-add-700-recruiters-boost-enlistments.html |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Military.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Matthew |date=2019-05-22 |title=Army Beginning to See Payoff from New Recruiting Strategy |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/05/22/army-beginning-see-payoff-new-recruiting-strategy.html |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Military.com |language=en}}

=Army readiness=

File:Mark Esper engages with Soldiers of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.jpg

In early 2017, the Army's readiness was at a low point when it came to fighting a near-peer threat like China or Russia. Only a few out of the Army's thirty-one active-duty brigade combat teams (BCTs) were fully ready to deploy.{{Cite web |last1=Cancian |first1=Mark F. |last2=Daniels |first2=Seamus P. |date=2018-04-18 |title=The State of Military Readiness: Is There a Crisis? |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/state-military-readiness-there-crisis |publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies |language=en}} To address these issues, Esper pursued several initiatives to improve individual and unit readiness. In the spring of 2018, several dozen mandatory training, inspection, and reporting requirements were eliminated.{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2018-04-24 |title=The Army just dumped a bunch of mandatory training to free up soldiers' time |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/04/24/the-army-just-dumped-a-bunch-of-mandatory-training-to-free-up-soldiers-time/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Army Times |language=en}} The aim was to reduce those tasks directed from higher echelons that prevented junior officers and NCOs from training their soldiers as they saw best. With regard to unit training, Army forces were directed to focus on high-intensity combat operations against near-peer adversaries (e.g., China and Russia). To both drive and measure success, exercises at the Army's premier National Training Center (NTC) were geared exclusively to these types of operations (which included new forms of warfare such as drone operations) and unit rotations to the NTC were maximized for the first time in years.{{Cite journal |last=Antal |first=John |date=2018-01-01 |title=No Train, No Gain - How the US Army's National Training Center is preparing for High-Intensity War |url=https://www.academia.edu/40206947 |journal=Military Technology}} Other initiatives to improve Army readiness included a new health and physical fitness regime, increases in training dollars, updated policies regarding individual deployability, and personnel changes that kept units together longer. By the summer of 2019, it was reported that the number of non-deployable soldiers was reduced by 65%, with a 250% increase in the number of Army BCTs considered combat ready.{{Cite web |last=Rempfer |first=Kyle |date=2019-06-12 |title=Brigade combat teams at the highest level of readiness have doubled under 'deploy or get out' |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/06/12/brigade-combat-teams-at-the-highest-level-of-readiness-have-doubled-under-deploy-or-get-out/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Army Times |language=en}}

=Overhaul of initial entry training=

File:Secretary Esper visits Fort Benning, GA.jpg, GA in November 2018, where he conducted ACFT drills with student officers, visited the 75th Ranger Regiment, and watched new soldiers in the recently lengthened Infantry OSUT course conduct live fire urban warfare training. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Nicole Mejia)]]

Esper launched a reform initiative in 2018 to improve initial entry training for combat soldiers. His directive extended basic and advanced infantry training by over 50 percent, to twenty-two weeks, making it one of the longest initial training programs in the world and the first major overhaul of the Army's initial training since the 1970s.{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2018-10-08 |title=Milley: We're going to cut instructor-trainee ratios at Army basic training in half |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/10/08/milley-were-going-to-cut-instructor-trainee-ratios-at-army-basic-training-in-half/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Army Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Army to extend OSUT for Infantry Soldiers |url=https://www.army.mil/article/207623/army_to_extend_osut_for_infantry_soldiers |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=www.army.mil |date=July 5, 2018 |language=en}} The additional training time allowed the Army to broaden, lengthen, and deepen weapons training, vehicle-platform familiarization, combatives instruction, field training, land navigation, and night operations, while adding a 40-hour combat-lifesaver certification course and water survival training, among other things.{{Cite web |title=Success of Army's increase to basic infantry training fuels more training for armor, cavalry recruits |url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/success-of-army-s-increase-to-basic-infantry-training-fuels-more-training-for-armor-cavalry-recruits-1.565863 |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Stars and Stripes |language=en}}

Initial reports in early 2019 showed a 50 percent reduction in attrition and injuries, with significant improvements across the board, including in physical fitness, land navigation, and marksmanship skills. The additional training time and a significant reduction in the drill-sergeant-to-trainee ratio were major drivers of these results. Given the program's success, Esper and his leadership team decided to expand basic and advanced training for other branches, such as armor and cavalry.{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Sydney J. Freedberg |date=2019-01-25 |title=Army Secretary Says Talent Reform Is Top Priority For 2020 |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2019/01/army-secretary-says-talent-reform-is-top-priority-for-2020/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}

=Restructuring the Army=

To prepare the Army for high-intensity conflict that was expected against China or Russia, Esper undertook several major initiatives designed to enhance the service's combat readiness. In 2018, the Army began rebalancing its force structure by converting two Infantry Brigade Combat Teams to the tank-centric Armored Brigade Combat Teams, increasing the service's heavy and more lethal maneuver forces by over 25%.{{Cite web |title=Army converting two BCTs to meet National Defense Strategy {{!}} InsideDefense.com |url=https://insidedefense.com/insider/army-converting-two-bcts-meet-national-defense-strategy |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=insidedefense.com}}

File:Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper visits Fort Irwin National Training Center Nov. 2, 2018. Dr. Esper visited the National Urban Warfare Center and met with armored Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division.jpg in November 2018 to emphasize the renewed importance of armored forces and high-intensity conflict.]]

The Army also launched new programs to rebuild longer-range precision artillery/rocket systems and mobile air-defense battalions – two specific combat functions that were neglected during the low-intensity wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These were two of the six modernization priorities outlined by Esper and his leadership team.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Army Short-Range Air Defense Force Structure and Selected Programs: Background and Issues for Congress |url=https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R46463.html |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=www.everycrsreport.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Secretary Mark Esper and the future of the U.S. Army |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/secretary-mark-esper-and-the-future-of-the-u-s-army/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Brookings |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Sydney J. Freedberg |date=2018-06-06 |title=Army Sec. Esper's 10-Year Plan Is A Big Bet On Budget |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2018/06/sec-esper-10-year-plan-is-a-big-bet-on-budget/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}

A new Multi Domain Task Force (MDTF) was established in 2018 to better integrate and network a variety of combat functions, including air defense, long range fires, cyber, space, and electronic warfare. The first MDTF, designed to counter an increasingly capable China, was deployed to the Indo-Pacific, with additional task forces planned for there and Europe. The MDTFs complemented other ideas being studied by Army leadership to enhance its warfighting capabilities, such as adding additional mechanized infantry companies to its armored formations, along with electronic warfare and cyber capabilities to its brigades.{{Cite web |last=Judson |first=Jen |date=2018-08-29 |title=Multidomain Operations Task Force cuts teeth in Pacific |url=https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/08/28/multidomain-operations-task-force-cuts-teeth-in-pacific/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Defense News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=March 16, 2023 |title=The Army's Multi Domain Task Force |url=https://sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/IF11797.pdf |website=Federation of American Scientists}}

File:Mark Esper visits with Polish soldiers training with American troops in Germany in 2018. Esper would later reactivate the Army's V Corps in Poland as DOD increasingly faced off against Russia.jpg

In February 2020, the Army announced the reactivation of the V Corps (and its basing at Fort Knox, Kentucky), with a forward headquarters to be established months later in Poland. According to Esper, the purpose behind establishing a fourth corps was to improve command and control in Europe, and help organize the war planning and preparations of the United States' Army and its NATO allies as they squared off against a revanchist Russia on the continent.{{Cite news |last=Youssef |first=Nancy A. |date=2020-02-11 |title=Army Reformulating 'V Corps' to Bulk Up in Europe |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/army-reformulating-v-corps-to-bulk-up-in-europe-11581458468 |access-date=2023-07-28 |issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web |title=Army's V Corps, with a long history in Europe, is back in action |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/army-s-v-corps-with-a-long-history-in-europe-is-back-in-action-1.648804 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Stars and Stripes |language=en}}

The activation of V Corps preceded the largest planned deployment of U.S. forces to Europe since the Cold War in the spring of 2020. The movement of tens of thousands of U.S. troops and their equipment to exercise locations across Europe was designed to test the Army's deployability and readiness, while also reassuring NATO allies of the service's ability to respond quickly in a crisis.{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Aaron |date=2020-07-10 |title=As Defender 2020 drill winds down, US Army plans for 2021 edition |url=https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-army/2020/07/10/as-defender-2020-winds-down-army-planning-for-2021-underway/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Defense News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2020 |title=Defender Europe 20 Military Exercise, Historical (REFORGER) Exercises, and U.S. Force Posture in Europe |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11407 |website=Congressional Research Service}}

=Night court=

File:Secretary of the Army Mark Esper testing an experimental counter-drone weapon in Afghanistan in December 2017.jpg

Night Court was the name ascribed to the unconventional process launched by Esper in early 2018 to free up funding for the Army's modernization priorities. The process began when Esper, reportedly frustrated that the Army Staff was unable to identify the budget needed to fund his modernization initiatives, directed the staff to rank every single one of the service's five-hundred-plus acquisition programs in order of importance (as they saw them), and then justify why each one should receive funding before the Army's new thirty-five programs.{{Cite web |last=Judson |first=Jen |date=2018-10-09 |title=Army's 'night court' finds $25 billion to reinvest in modernization priorities |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2018/10/08/armys-night-court-finds-25-billion-to-reinvest-in-modernization-priorities/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Defense News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Army 'Night Court' deep cuts revealed as Esper eyes expanding process Pentagon-wide {{!}} InsideDefense.com |url=https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/army-night-court-deep-cuts-revealed-esper-eyes-expanding-process-pentagon-wide |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=insidedefense.com}}{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn= 978-0063144316 |pages=46–49}}

Moreover, the staff was told to find savings from all the service's accounts, not just the acquisition portfolio. Esper, Chief of Staff Mark Milley, and other Army leaders then personally reviewed every existing program over a period of several weeks. The effort resulted in the leadership team finding over $31 billion in savings. They eliminated or reduced 186 programs to fund the service's modernization strategy, as well as other initiatives such as expanded basic training, a new recruiting campaign, and an overhaul of the Army's physical fitness program. Every one of the Army's top thirty-plus programs bundled under the Army's new six modernization priorities received the money it needed in the FY 2019 budget as a result.{{Cite web |last=Roblin |first=Sebastien |date=2021-03-09 |title=Big Six: How the U.S. Army Is Modernizing for Future War |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/big-six-how-us-army-modernizing-future-war-179757 |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=The National Interest |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cancian |first=Mark |title=Mark Esper Is About To Put Every Pentagon Program Manager Through The Wringer |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcancian/2019/07/24/theres-a-new-sheriff-in-the-pentagon/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

The Army continued its Night Court proceedings through the fall of 2018 and into 2019. By the spring of that year, only a few months before Esper became Secretary of Defense, the service canceled another forty-one programs, and delayed or reduced thirty-nine more, to find an additional $13.5 billion in savings for its modernization efforts in the FY 2020 budget. Esper eventually applied the Night Court process to the entire Department of Defense when he became the Defense Secretary in July 2019.{{Cite journal |last1=Bertuca |first1=Tony |last2=Tressel |first2=Ashley |date=2019 |title=Army 'Night Court' deep cuts revealed as Esper eyes expanding process Pentagon-wide |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26754800 |journal=Inside the Pentagon |volume=35 |issue=31 |pages=1–8 |jstor=26754800 |issn=2164-814X}}{{Cite web |date=2019-09-27 |title=Congress concerned Army's night court goes too far, adds requirements |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/army/2019/09/congress-concerned-armys-night-court-goes-too-far-adds-requirements/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Federal News Network |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Mehta |first1=Aaron |last2=Gould |first2=Joe |date=2019-08-28 |title=Night court comes to the Pentagon |url=https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2019/08/28/night-court-comes-to-the-pentagon/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Defense News |language=en}}

=Army modernization and Army Futures Command=

File:Honorable Mark Esper, Secretary of the Army, speaking before a gathering of VIPs at the future home of the Army Futures Command, which he established in August 2019.jpg (AFC), which he established earlier. He is joined by Army senior leaders and state representatives. Esper later participated in a press conference and spoke at the Association of the United States Army reception in honor of the activation of AFC. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brandy N. Mejia)]]

In 2018, Esper directed the establishment of Army Futures Command (AFC) in Austin, Texas. It was the biggest change in the Army's structure in over four decades. AFC's purpose was to "establish unity of command and unity of effort by consolidating the Army's entire modernization process under one roof." One commander would be driving concept development, requirements determination, organizational design, science and technology research, and solution development. Eight cross-functional teams, each led by a brigadier general, were also established to rapidly and efficiently coordinate all the acquisition players in order to ensure cost, time, and schedule milestones were met. The goal was to avoid the acquisition failures of the past in order to field the weapons needed in the future.{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Matthew |date=2018-07-13 |title=It's Official: Austin Is Home of New Army Futures Command |url=https://www.military.com/dodbuzz/2018/07/13/its-official-austin-home-new-army-futures-command.html |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Military.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2019-02-14 |title=Army Futures Command: What Is It & What Does It Mean for Austin, TX? |url=https://aquilacommercial.com/learning-center/army-futures-command-austin/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=AQUILA Commercial |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Judson |first=Jen |date=2018-09-16 |title=Will Army Futures Command work? House lawmakers skeptical, but hopeful |url=https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/09/14/will-army-futures-command-work-house-lawmakers-skeptical-but-hopeful/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Defense News |language=en}}

To guide AFC's work, the Army leadership established six modernization priorities, which included long-range precision fires, next-generation combat vehicles, future vertical lift, Army network, air and missile defense, and soldier lethality. Included under these broad categories were thirty-one top tier programs that would deliver the future force. An additional four programs were added by the service's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, which Esper established in late 2018 to "find and harvest emerging critical technologies" in the private sector for the AFC's use.{{Cite web |last=Judson |first=Jen |date=2019-03-26 |title=Army transforming RCO to tackle and quickly field complex tech |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/global-force-symposium/2019/03/26/army-transforming-rco-to-tackle-and-quickly-field-complex-tech/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Defense News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Sydney J. Freedberg |date=2018-05-16 |title=Evolutionary Revolution: Esper's Army Modernization Philosophy |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2018/05/evolutionary-revolution-sec-espers-army-modernization-philosophy/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}

In February 2022, the Army announced that 24 of the service's 35 modernization programs will be in soldiers' hands as fielded systems or prototypes in fiscal year 2023.{{Cite web |last=Eversden |first=Andrew |date=2021-12-17 |title=Here's the Army's 24 programs in soldiers' hands by 2023 |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2021/12/heres-the-armys-24-programs-in-soldiers-hands-by-2023/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}

=Soldier health and fitness=

File:Photo of Army Secretary Mark Esper conduct physical training at Fort Bragg.jpeg

In 2018, Esper directed a multi-year phased adoption of the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). The six-event ACFT replaced the three-event Army Physical Fitness Test that had been in use since 1980. The ACFT was based on the Army's wartime experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than a hundred critical "warrior tasks and drills," and modern fitness regimens. It was also based on extensive data on how, where, and why soldiers suffered physical injuries that made them non-available for combat duty. Further, the ACFT mimicked the skills, movements, and other physical tasks associated with wartime tasks.{{Cite web |last=Fink |first=Jenni |date=2018-07-09 |title=Army Set to Use New Gender-, Age-Neutral Fitness Test |url=https://www.newsweek.com/army-approves-new-gender-age-neutral-fitness-test-1014928 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Schogol |first=Jeff |date=2018-02-15 |title=Army's New Physical Fitness Test Will Be Gender-Neutral, Secretary Says |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-wants-gender-neutral-fitnes-test/ |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Task & Purpose |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2018-11-29 |title=New Army Combat Fitness Test Standards |url=https://citizen-soldiermagazine.com/the-new-standard-of-fitness/ |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Citizen-Soldier |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Matthew |date=2018-09-21 |title=For Some Soldiers, New, Tougher Army Fitness Test a Jarring Wake-Up Call |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/09/15/some-soldiers-new-tougher-army-fitness-test-jarring-wake-call.html |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Military.com |language=en}}

A year later, Esper approved plans to assign sports trainers, physical therapists, nutritionists, and other specialists to the Army's brigades and battalions as a second pillar of improving the service's fitness culture. The "Holistic Health and Fitness" (H2F) program as it became known aimed to "optimize soldier readiness, reduce injury rates, improve rehabilitation after injury, and increase the overall effectiveness of the Army." The adoption of the new ACFT and its training regimen, the initial establishment of the H2F program, and other initiatives resulted in a reduction in soldier non-deployability rates from over 15% in 2017 down to under 6% by the end of 2019, leading to an increase in units' readiness across the Army.{{Cite web |last=South |first=Todd |date=2022-01-03 |title=How the Army holistic health and fitness program can help soldiers' New Year's resolutions |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2022/01/03/the-armys-holistic-health-and-fitness-program-keys-to-new-years-resolutions/ |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Army Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-02-08 |title=Discussion with the Secretaries of the U.S. Military Departments |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/discussion-secretaries-us-military-departments-0 |publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Shane |first=Leo III |date=2019-03-14 |title=About 21,000 troops booted so far under 'deploy or get out' policy |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/03/14/about-21000-booted-so-far-under-deploy-or-get-out-policy/ |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Military Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bigelman |first=Kevin |title=Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Implementation |url=https://usacimt.tradoc.army.mil/assets/H2F%20101%20(Approved%20for%20Public%20Release).pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221155414/https://usacimt.tradoc.army.mil/assets/H2F%20101%20(Approved%20for%20Public%20Release).pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |website=U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command}}

=Talent management=

File:Army Secretary Mark Esper speaks before Army leadership about the Talent Management initiative.jpg

In 2019, Esper shifted focus to another pillar of the "Army renaissance" that needed reform – the Army personnel system. A core objective was to move away from a command-driven people management model branded as "up or out" to a new market-based talent management approach that offered more room for personal preferences and emphasized "perform or out."{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Sydney J. Freedberg |date=2019-01-25 |title=Army Secretary Says Talent Reform Is Top Priority For 2020 |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2019/01/army-secretary-says-talent-reform-is-top-priority-for-2020/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}} A Talent Management Task Force led by General Jim McConville, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, and Esper, went about setting up the market-based model for commanders and soldiers (beginning with the officer corps)—the buyers and sellers, respectively—that would give them more say in their careers, their timelines, and the assignments they took.{{Cite web |title=JUST IN: Army Embarking on Personnel System 'Renaissance' |url=https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2019/6/13/just-in-army-embarking-on-personnel-system-renaissance |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=www.nationaldefensemagazine.org |language=en}}

Within the constraints of a military system where the needs of the Army still came first, the task force worked to give service members more say in their careers, while also improving efficiency and attaining higher rates of satisfaction. Examples of the new system that emerged included the Army Talent Alignment Process, which allowed soldiers to remain at one duty station longer than three years if they wanted, and permit them to search and apply for jobs across the Army. Commanders, conversely, would be able to search for and interview applicants, thus affording them the opportunity to make better choices about who served in their units. They could attract top talent by advertising things such as their command philosophy, training regimen, and the expectations they had of their subordinates, for example.{{Cite web |date=July 2020 |title=Commanders Guide to ATAP |url=https://talent.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Commanders-Guide-to-ATAP-2020.pdf |website=U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Talent Management}}{{Cite web |last=joshatvmi |date=2019-03-30 |title=AIM-ing for the Best Assignment: How to Make the Most Out of AIM 2.0 |url=http://fieldgradeleader.themilitaryleader.com/aim/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=The Field Grade Leader |language=en-US}}File:Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper visits Fort Gordon and the future U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, Georgia, June 7, 2018. (U.S. Army photo by Daniel Torok).jpgIn the summer of 2019, the Army also piloted a new multiday approach to choosing battalion commanders – arguably the most important command selection in an officer's career – based on the NFL's Combine. Under this new system, selected officers underwent "a series of cognitive, non-cognitive, and physical assessments," such as fitness tests, assessments of verbal and written communications skills, and a double-blind interview with a panel of senior officers, over a period of several days. The results of this weeklong period were eventually provided to promotion boards.{{Cite web |last=Spain |first=Everett |date=2020-01-12 |title=The Army's NFL Combine: The Battalion Commander Assessment Program |url=https://mwi.westpoint.edu/armys-nfl-combine-battalion-commander-assessment-program/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Modern War Institute |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Britzky |first=Haley |date=2020-01-23 |title=The Army's new battalion commander selection process is just like the NFL Scouting Combine, service chief says |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-battalion-commander-assessment-program/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Task & Purpose |language=en-US}} Other initiatives being developed included giving service members the opportunity to take yearlong unpaid sabbaticals without being penalized, and making it possible for soldiers to make seamless transitions between the regular Army, the National Guard, and the Army Reserve as their professional goals or personal situations changed over time.{{Cite web |title=Army policy offering up to three-year service break |url=https://www.army.mil/article/246439/army_policy_offering_up_to_three_year_service_break |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=www.army.mil |date=May 17, 2021 |language=en}}

=Family care=

File:Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper spoke at the AUSA Army Family Readiness Forum alongside Army Vice Chief of Staff James McConville and the Army Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey.jpg

Esper identified "taking care of Soldiers and their families" as a top priority during his nomination hearing. At the top of this list was spousal hiring and childcare, two priorities borne out of his wife's experiences when he served on active duty.{{Cite web |title=Defense Department Nominations |date=November 2, 2017 |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?436700-1/defense-department-nominations |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=C-SPAN.org}}{{Cite news |last=Vergun |first=David |date=July 17, 2019 |title=Esper would continue Pentagon emphasis on readiness, partnerships, reform |work=Defense.gov |url=https://www.army.mil/article/224640/esper_would_continue_pentagon_emphasis_on_readiness_partnerships_reform}}{{Cite web |title=Military Daily News |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Military.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=March 4, 2020 |title=Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper – Department of Defense Posture Statement – Senate Armed Services Committee |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Esper_03-04-20.pdf |website=U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services}} Esper pushed on several fronts to advance this initiative: making professional license reciprocity a condition for where the Army would initiate or expand base investment decisions; working with state and federal lawmakers to mandate license reciprocity and incentivize the hiring of military spouses; reducing the number of PCS moves military families would make in order to give spouses job stability and their children school stability; reducing the on-base hiring timeline and requirements for civilian applicants; and expanding capacity at childcare centers while prioritizing the children of uniformed personnel over civilians. As Secretary of Defense, Esper went further by pushing to standardize and tailor childcare center operating hours for service members who worked weekend and unusual hours.{{Cite news |last=Dickstein |first=Cory |date=February 6, 2019 |title=Army secretary seeks to help families through fewer moves, spouse job opportunities |work=Stars and Stripes |url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/army-secretary-seeks-to-help-families-through-fewer-moves-spouse-job-opportunities-1.567454}}{{Cite web |title=Senior leaders discuss upcoming moves to ease family concerns |url=https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/1753708/senior-leaders-discuss-upcoming-moves-to-ease-family-concerns/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jbsa.mil%2FNews%2FNews%2FArticle%2F1753708%2Fsenior-leaders-discuss-upcoming-moves-to-ease-family-concerns%2F |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Joint Base San Antonio |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite news |last=Kenney |first=Caitlin |date=February 27, 2020 |title=Pentagon makes military families a greater priority for child care services |work=Stars and Stripes |url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/pentagon-makes-military-families-a-greater-priority-for-child-care-services-1.620445}}{{Cite press release |title=DOD Releases Military Spouse Licensure Report |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2091431/dod-releases-military-spouse-licensure-report/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=July 27, 2020 |title=U.S. Partially Bases Choice of Sites for Military Bases on States' Success in Improving Reciprocity |pages=1–2 |work=Professional Licensing Report |url=https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/Article_USPartiallyBasesChoiceOfSites_July272020.pdf}}

File:Secretary Esper meets with enlisted Soldiers.jpg

Another family issue that Esper worked to improve was the Exceptional Family Member Program, a program for assisting and prioritizing service members with a child in need of specialty care or medical attention. His focus was on improving access, especially for overseas or remote assignments, and then standardizing that process across the Department of Defense. Another area of emphasis was ensuring quality on-base housing for service members. Esper conducted multiple inspections of military homes across the service to determine the cause and extent of the problem, pressed housing contractors to meet their obligations to maintain quality homes and complete work orders more quickly and properly, wrote the department's housing "bill of rights" for service members, and collaborated with lawmakers on legislative changes to improve quality of life for those in uniform.{{Cite web |title=Congressional Military Family Summit, Defense Secretary Esper Remarks {{!}} C-SPAN.org |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?476802-1/congressional-military-family-summit-defense-secretary-esper-remarks |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=www.c-span.org}}{{Cite news |last=Lacdan |first=Joe |date=February 19, 2020 |title=Army working improvements for Exceptional Family Member Program |work=Army News Service |url=https://www.army.mil/article/232782/army_working_improvements_for_exceptional_family_member_program}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-02 |title=EFMP process updates create standardization across branches |url=https://www.afpc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3019188/efmp-process-updates-create-standardization-across-branches/https://www.afpc.af.mil/News/Article/3019188/efmp-process-updates-create-standardization-across-branches/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Air Force's Personnel Center |language=en-US }}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite news |last=Pilgrim |first=Eric |date=July 20, 2021 |title=Final privatized housing Tenant Bill of Rights enacted across Army installations by end of July |work=Army News Service |url=https://www.army.mil/article/248597/final_privatized_housing_tenant_bill_of_rights_enacted_across_army_installations_by_end_of_july}}{{Cite news |last=Jowers |first=Karen |date=February 26, 2020 |title=Esper signs military tenants' bill of rights. Here's what covered and what's not. |work=Military Times |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2020/02/26/secdef-signs-military-tenants-bill-of-rights/}}{{Cite news |last=Maucione |first=Scott |date=February 26, 2020 |title=Esper signs tenant bill of rights for families, but some provisions missing |work=Federal News Network |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main/2020/02/esper-signs-tenant-bill-of-rights-for-families-but-some-provisions-missing/}}{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=Rachael |title=Top Army officials visit homes at Fort Bragg |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/military/2019/02/27/top-army-officials-visit-homes-at-fort-bragg/5806731007/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=The Fayetteville Observer |language=en-US}}

=Transgender servicemembers=

President Trump tweeted his objections to transgender servicemembers in July 2017, and, under his Presidential Memorandum of August 25, 2017, he required the Department of Defense to produce a report on this subject.{{Cite web|date=25 August 2017|title=Trump signs memo directing Pentagon to renew ban on recruiting transgender people|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pentagon-expects-to-renew-ban-on-recruiting-transgender-people-soon/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525071026/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pentagon-expects-to-renew-ban-on-recruiting-transgender-people-soon/|archive-date=May 25, 2019|access-date=2020-09-08|website=CBS News|language=en-US}} Esper was asked by reporters in February 2018 whether soldiers had concerns about serving beside openly transgender individuals. He replied: "It really hasn't come up."{{Cite news|last=Mclaughlin|first=Elizabeth|date=15 February 2018|title=Soldiers not asking about transgender policy: Army secretary|work=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/soldiers-transgender-policy-army-secretary/story?id=53118727|url-status=live|access-date=7 September 2020|archive-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611183613/https://abcnews.go.com/US/soldiers-transgender-policy-army-secretary/story?id=53118727}}

File:Army Secretary visits with an M777 howitzer gun crew in Afghanistan in December 2017 as the service prioritized a rebuilding of its long-ranger artillery capabilities.jpg

After Esper was nominated to become Secretary of Defense, he said that he had met several transgender service members and was impressed with them. Nonetheless, he supported Directive-type Memorandum-19-004, which required service members to meet standards associated with their actual sex. Esper claimed it was not a "blanket ban" on transgender service members but rather a policy to ensure that service members are deployable worldwide and can meet military standards without "special accommodations." He said that service members would be individually assessed and that some would be offered waivers to continue serving. In this interview, Esper cited the Defense Department's February 2018 report to support his views.

Secretary of Defense

=Temporary appointment and nomination=

File:Swearing-in Ceremony for Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (48374478966).jpg on July 23, 2019.]]

Trump announced the appointment of Esper as Acting Secretary of Defense on June 18, 2019, after Acting Secretary Patrick Shanahan decided to withdraw his nomination.{{Cite tweet | user = realDonaldTrump | date = June 18, 2019 | title = ....I thank Pat for his outstanding service and will be naming Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper, to be the new Acting Secretary of Defense. I know Mark, and have no doubt he will do a fantastic job! | number = 1141027595380826118}} Four days later, it was announced that Trump would nominate Esper to serve as Secretary of Defense in a permanent capacity.{{Cite news | last = Cooper | first = Helene | work = The New York Times | title = Trump Nominates Mark Esper as Next Defense Secretary | date = June 21, 2019 | access-date = June 22, 2019 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/us/politics/mark-esper-defense-secretary-nomination.html | archive-date = June 21, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621203048/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/us/politics/mark-esper-defense-secretary-nomination.html | url-status = live }} On July 15, 2019, the White House formally sent his nomination to the Senate.{{Cite web |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/one-nomination-sent-senate-5/ | title = One Nomination Sent to the Senate | access-date = July 15, 2019 | archive-date = January 20, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120201946/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/one-nomination-sent-senate-5/ |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov | url-status = live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/934 | title = PN934 — Mark T. Esper — Department of Defense | date = July 15, 2019 | website = U.S. Congress | access-date = July 16, 2019 | archive-date = July 16, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716130409/https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/934 | url-status = live }}Following his formal nomination, Esper was replaced as Acting Defense Secretary by Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, as the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 prevented Esper from serving as acting secretary while his nomination was formally under consideration. During that period, Esper reverted to his position as Secretary of the Army. The Senate Committee on Armed Services scheduled a hearing on the nomination for the next day.{{Cite web |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/19-07-16-nomination_--esper | title = Nomination -- Esper | website = U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services | date = July 16, 2019 | access-date = July 16, 2019 | archive-date = July 16, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716013800/https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/19-07-16-nomination_--esper | url-status = live }}

=Senate confirmation=

File:EsperConfirmation.webp

Esper appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on July 16, 2019. During his testimony, Esper stated that implementing the National Defense Strategy, with an emphasis on China then Russia, would be his focus, adding that he believed in President Ronald Reagan's mantra of "peace through strength." Esper said that he would have four priorities as defense secretary: "build a more lethal force by increasing readiness and modernizing for the future to deter war"; "strengthen our alliances and attract new partners"; "reform the Department,"; and "focus on the well-being of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and their families."{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Full Committee Hearing on the Nomination of the Honorable Mark T. Esper to be Secretary of Defense |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/19-07-16-nomination_--esper |website=Homepage of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services}}

With regard to the conduct of foreign policy, Esper said "the greatest power we have is the power of our values" and that people around the world aspire "to come to this country because they know we believe in freedom and democracy and individual rights."

Esper also stated that a "very important" matter for him was to "continue the long-held tradition that DOD remain apolitical," and that he would resign if pressed by the president to do something illegal, immoral, or unethical.

During the Senate confirmation process, Esper was asked to identify the factors he would consider in making recommendations to the President with regard to the use of military force. In a written response to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Esper wrote that he would "consider a variety of factors, but principally the threat to the United States, including its imminence; the nature of the U.S. interest at issue and its importance; whether nonmilitary means have been considered and are being integrated into any proposed response; whether we would have a clear and achievable objective for using force; the likely risks, costs, and consequences of the operation; whether the proposed action is appropriate and proportional; the views of the Congress; the willingness of foreign partners to support the action; and the legal basis in domestic and international law."{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Senate Armed Services Committee Advance Policy Questions for Dr. Mark T. Esper Nominee for Appointment to be Secretary of Defense |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Esper_APQs_07-16-19.pdf |website=Official Website of the Senate Committee on Armed Services |page=13}}File:190725-D-SV709-0893.jpgIn his first formal message to all Department of Defense employees on June 24, 2019, a few weeks prior, Esper said he placed "great importance on a commitment by all, especially Leaders, to those values and behaviors that represent the best of the military profession and mark the character and integrity of the Armed Forces that the American people admire."{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2019-06-24 |title=Esper lays out priorities in first message to the force as acting SECDEF |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2019/06/24/esper-lays-out-priorities-in-first-message-to-the-force-as-acting-secdef/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Military Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=U.S. Naval Institute Staff |date=June 24, 2019 |title=Acting SECDEF Esper's First Message to Pentagon |url=https://news.usni.org/2019/06/24/acting-secdef-espers-first-message-to-pentagon |website=U.S. Naval Institute}}{{Cite web |date=2019-07-16 |title=Nomination -- Esper {{!}} United States Senate Committee on Armed Services |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/19-07-16-nomination_--esper |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=www.armed-services.senate.gov |language=en}}

On July 22, 2019, the Senate voted 85–6 to invoke cloture on Esper's nomination.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00219 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804173425/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00219 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |website=senate.gov}} On July 23, 2019, his nomination was confirmed by a vote of 90–8.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00220 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723220952/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00220 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |website=senate.gov}} Esper's confirmation made him the first graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the first Secretary of the Army, to become Secretary of Defense.{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2024 |title=United States Military Academy Notable Graduates |url=https://www.westpoint.edu/about/history-of-west-point/notable-graduates |website=www.westpoint.edu}} Esper is also the first former member of the National Guard to become Secretary of Defense.{{Cite web |date=2019-07-23 |title=Esper is First Former Guardsmen Confirmed as Defense Secretary {{!}} National Guard Association of the United States |url=https://www.ngaus.org/about-ngaus/newsroom/esper-first-former-guardsmen-confirmed-defense-secretary |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.ngaus.org |language=en}}

=National Defense Strategy =

File:190807-D-SV709-0047 (48480119851).jpg

In his June 24 message to all Department of Defense employees, Esper stated that implementing the National Defense Strategy (NDS) would be his primary focus.File:Mark T. Esper Khalid bin Salman.jpg at the Pentagon, August 29, 2019]]

File:Esper attends bilateral ceremony in Vietnam, 2019.jpg in Hanoi, November 20, 2019]]

The NDS said the Defense Department's mission was "to provide combat-credible military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our nation," and if deterrence failed, the U.S. military had to fight and win on the modern battlefield. It further stated that the U.S. had now entered a new era of Great Power Competition where China and Russia are America's strategic competitors, and "rapid technological change" was a defining hallmark. The NDS asserted that "The costs of not implementing this strategy are clear. Failure to meet our defense objectives will result in decreasing U.S. global influence, eroding cohesion among allies and partners, and reduced access to markets that will contribute to a decline in our prosperity and standard of living."{{Cite web |date=January 2018 |title=Summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy of the United States of America |url=https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824045508/https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |website=Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense}}

Esper identified ten objectives critical to implementing the NDS: Review, update, and approve all China and Russia plans; Implement the Immediate Response Force, Contingency Response Force, and Dynamic Force Employment enhanced readiness concepts; Reallocate, reassign, and redeploy forces in accordance with the NDS; Achieve a higher level of sustainable readiness; Develop a coordinated plan to strengthen allies and build partners; Reform and manage the Fourth Estate and DOD; Focus the Department on China; Modernize the force—invest in game-changing technologies; Establish realistic joint war games, exercises, and training plans; and, Develop a modern joint warfighting concept and, ultimately, doctrine.{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn=9780063144316 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=94–95}}

One year later, in July 2020, Esper delivered a televised address to Department of Defense employees to give them a "one year update" on the progress achieved in implementing the NDS, with a focus on his top ten objectives and other actions necessary to accomplish the department's goals.{{Cite web |title=Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper Message to the Force on Accomplishments in Implementation |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2266872/secretary-of-defense-mark-t-esper-message-to-the-force-on-accomplishments-in-im/https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2266872/secretary-of-defense-mark-t-esper-message-to-the-force-on-accomplishments-in-im/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=July 1, 2020 |title=SECDEF Year In Review |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/video/758925/secdef-year-review |website=Department of Defense Visual Information Distribution Service}}{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn=9780063144316 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=100–101}}

= Reforming the Pentagon =

Esper made several changes in his first month in office to jump start his reform efforts, from altering the number, membership, scope, and purpose of meetings he held in the Pentagon to initiating a "Night Court" style review process focused across the department, beginning with the so-called fourth estate. His stated aim was to "improve our business practices, become more efficient, and free up funding" for other priorities.{{Cite web |last=McLeary |first=Paul |date=2019-09-09 |title=Esper Starts Setting Up DoD-Wide 'Night Court' |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2019/09/esper-starts-setting-up-dod-wide-night-court/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |publication-date=2022 |pages=95–97 |language=English}}

File:SecEsperMonthlyPressBrief.jpg

On the cost-savings front, Esper's efforts reportedly led to over $5 billion in saving his first six months in office. To sustain the review process and assert greater control over the various agencies and commands not under the armed services and their civilian leaders, Esper put the Senate-confirmed Chief Management Officer in charge of these organizations, and then required them to participate in the annual budget build and Program Objective Memorandum process similar to the armed services.{{Cite web |last=Aitoro |first=Jill |date=December 7, 2019 |title=Esper points to $5 billion in 'night court' savings |url=https://www.c4isrnet.com/smr/reagan-defense-forum/2019/12/07/esper-points-to-5-billion-in-night-court-cuts/ |website=C4ISRNet.com}}{{Cite web |last=Serbu |first=Jared |date=July 9, 2020 |title=DoD CMO gains new cachet as 'secretary of the fourth estate' |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/on-dod/2020/07/dod-cmo-gains-new-cachet-as-secretary-of-the-fourth-estate/ |website=FederalNewsNetwork.com}}

Esper would eventually pursue a number of other reform initiatives, with issues ranging from improving childcare capacity and availability for DOD personnel and targeting over-classification within the Pentagon, to reducing the total number of general officers and replacing Defense Department organizations such as the Defense Security Cooperation Agency with qualified civilian leaders.{{Cite web |last=Jowers |first=Karen |date=2020-02-25 |title=Working military families will soon get more access to DoD child care |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2020/02/25/working-military-families-will-soon-get-more-access-to-dod-child-care/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Military Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Industry applauds appointment of new civilian DSCA director {{!}} InsideDefense.com |url=https://insidedefense.com/insider/industry-applauds-appointment-new-civilian-dsca-director |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=insidedefense.com}}

= Civilian control of the military =

File:191002-D-BN624-0005 (48832948827).jpg

In his memoir, Esper expressed concern that appointed civilian officials were not sufficiently exercising their authority and that the military-run combatant commands had grown too powerful. He wrote that "restoring the proper civilian-military balance was an issue that [he] would work hard to achieve." This was also an issue highlighted by the Congressionally-chartered National Defense Strategy Commission in its November 2018 report.{{Cite web |title=National Defense Strategy Commission Releases Its Review of 2018 National Defense Strategy |url=https://www.usip.org/press/2018/11/national-defense-strategy-commission-releases-its-review-2018-national-defense |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203123407/https://www.usip.org/press/2018/11/national-defense-strategy-commission-releases-its-review-2018-national-defense |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=United States Institute of Peace |language=en}} Esper's aims were implemented through the civilian run Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), such as the Policy office, and through the civilian secretaries of the military departments.{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=84–86}}{{Cite web |date=2019-09-09 |title=Two Cheers for Esper's Plan to Reassert Civilian Control of the Pentagon |url=https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2019/09/two-cheers-espers-plan-reassert-civilian-control-pentagon/159716/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Defense One |language=en}}

To restore the proper civilian-military balance while also improving coordination across the department, Esper invited the civilian secretaries of the armed services into planning meetings and war plan reviews with the combatant commanders. He also began meeting frequently with his senior civilian leaders on issues ranging from operational and modernization plans, to matters such as housing, personnel policy, and COVID response.{{Cite web |title=Esper, service secretaries talk privatized housing reform |url=https://www.army.mil/article/228324/esper_service_secretaries_talk_privatized_housing_reform |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.army.mil |date=October 9, 2019 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=99–105}} Importantly, Esper ensured that the head of DOD's Policy office – and other civilian leaders as appropriate – were properly integrated into the war planning processes, as well as global force management and deployment issues.The Policy office was also directed to develop a single integrated plan to strengthen allies and build partners as one of the original ten NDS implementation objectives. This first of its kind strategy, dubbed the Guidance for the Development of Alliances and Partnerships (GDAP), enabled the Pentagon to prioritize and align its security cooperation activities to build greater partner capacity; better articulate DOD's needs for their priority warfighting roles; and help them shape their militaries into more capable forces.{{Cite web |last=Wemer |first=David |date=October 20, 2020 |title=Defense Secretary unveils a new strategy for bolstering allies and partnerships in an era of great-power competition |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/defense-secretary-unveils-a-new-strategy-for-bolstering-allies-and-partnerships-in-an-era-of-great-power-competition/ |website=The Atlantic Council}}{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=107–109}} The OSD Personnel and Readiness office, alternatively, was tasked to develop joint training and exercise plans to enhance the readiness and deployability of U.S. forces, which required the Joint Staff to assess select units around the globe in order to test and validate the new Immediate Response Force and Dynamic Force Employment concepts that Esper was implementing.{{Cite web |title=Secretary of Defense Readiness Remarks at Heritage Foundation |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/2383508/secretary-of-defense-readiness-remarks-at-heritage-foundation/https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/2383508/secretary-of-defense-readiness-remarks-at-heritage-foundation/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=106–107}}

The combatant commands were also scrutinized in detail to find budget savings and efficiencies. Their mission statements were similarly reviewed, as were the "requirements" driving their operations, and funding back doors were closed. In his memoir,{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=90–105}} Esper said he viewed these actions as also contributing to a reassertion of proper civilian control over the military by imposing accountability and fiscal discipline on the combatant commands, and ensuring senior civilian appointees were involved in these processes.{{Cite web |last1=Aitoro |first1=Jill |last2=Mehta |first2=Aaron |date=2019-12-09 |title=Esper points to $5 billion in 'night court' savings |url=https://www.defensenews.com/smr/reagan-defense-forum/2019/12/07/esper-points-to-5-billion-in-night-court-cuts/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Defense News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-11-09 |title=Putting Combatant Commanders on a Demand Signal Diet |url=https://warontherocks.com/2020/11/putting-combatant-commanders-on-a-demand-signal-diet/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=War on the Rocks |language=en-US}}

= Modernization of the Armed Forces =

File:EsperJet Hawaii1000w q95.webp

During Esper's tenure, the Pentagon identified eleven modernization initiatives that were considered key game changers for DOD. Technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), hypersonics, quantum science, biotechnology, directed energy, microelectronics, and 5G were deemed critical to ensuring the U.S. military's continued overmatch in the decades to come. Billions of dollars were invested in these initiatives, marking the FY 2021 budget submission as the largest research and development funding proposal in the department's history. Modernization roadmaps were also released for these technologies.{{Cite web |title=Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper Message to the Force on Accomplishments in Implementation |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2266872/secretary-of-defense-mark-t-esper-message-to-the-force-on-accomplishments-in-im/https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2266872/secretary-of-defense-mark-t-esper-message-to-the-force-on-accomplishments-in-im/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Aaron |date=2020-02-10 |title=Pentagon budget request increases R&D funding, cuts legacy planes |url=https://www.defensenews.com/smr/federal-budget/2020/02/10/pentagon-budget-request-increases-rd-funding-cuts-legacy-planes/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Defense News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=February 26, 2020 |title=Testimony of Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper before the House Armed Services Committee |url=https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/110584/witnesses/HHRG-116-AS00-Wstate-EsperM-20200226.pdf |website=Official Website of the House Armed Services Committee}}File:Space Force flag in the Oval Office of the White House (200515-F-ZZ999-3452).jpg

Esper considered AI to be the most critical technology for DOD to develop and proliferate across the military services and their warfighting functions. This was a theme he pressed as Army Secretary, exemplified by his establishment of the Army's first AI Task Force at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in early 2019.{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2019 |title=Carnegie Mellon Hosts Activation of U.S. Army AI Task Force |url=https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2019/february/army-ai-task-force.html |website=Carnegie Mellon University website}} Esper argued that AI would "change the character of warfare for generations to come" and that it would "afford decisive and enduring advantages to whoever harnessed and mastered it first." To help achieve these ends, the fielding of AI was scaled up through the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center to meet the department's needs; the first official Chief Data Officer was established under the Chief Information Officer; and the first DOD Data Strategy to guide improvements on the availability and reliability of department information was released.{{Cite web |last=Machi |first=Vivienne |date=2019-07-17 |title=Artificial Intelligence Top Technology Priority for SECDEF Nominee Esper |url=https://www.defensedaily.com/artificial-intelligence-top-technology-priority-secdef-nominee-esper/advanced-transformational-technology/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Defense Daily |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Esper Says Artificial Intelligence Will Change the Battlefield |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2340972/esper-says-artificial-intelligence-will-change-the-battlefield/https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2340972/esper-says-artificial-intelligence-will-change-the-battlefield/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |title=DOD's Chief Data Officer Aims to Deliver Data Reform |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2226020/dods-chief-data-officer-aims-to-deliver-data-reform/https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2226020/dods-chief-data-officer-aims-to-deliver-data-reform/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=March 4, 2020 |title=SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK T. ESPER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POSTURE STATEMENT SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2226020/dods-chief-data-officer-aims-to-deliver-data-reform/ |website=Official Website of the Senate Committee on Armed Services}}{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Jane |date=2019-07-17 |title=DoD Nominee Mark Esper Cites AI as Top Modernization Priority |url=https://executivegov.com/2019/07/dod-nominee-mark-esper-cites-ai-as-top-modernization-priority/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=DOD Issues New Data Strategy |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2376629/dod-issues-new-data-strategy/https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2376629/dod-issues-new-data-strategy/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

In February 2020, Esper approved the first-ever AI Ethics Principles to establish DOD and the United States as the global leader in the responsible development and use of Artificial Intelligence.{{Cite web |title=DOD Adopts Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/release/article/2091996/dod-adopts-ethical-principles-for-artificial-intelligence/https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2091996/dod-adopts-ethical-principles-for-artificial-intelligence/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |title=The Insider {{!}} InsideDefense.com |url=https://insidedefense.com/insider/pentagon-adopts-ethical-principles-guide-development-use-artificial-intelligence- |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=insidedefense.com}}

= Building a Better U.S. Navy =

File:SecEsperAttackSubNorfolk.jpg

Given the declining ship count and readiness of the U.S. Navy, coupled with what Esper viewed as a stale modernization plan at a time when the importance of maritime forces was growing, Esper organized a team of internal and outside experts in early 2020 to look at new force options. He directed that any future fleet must optimize the following attributes: distributed lethality and awareness; survivability in a high intensity conflict; adaptability for a complex world; ability to project power, control the seas, and demonstrate presence; and finally, the capability to deliver precision effects at very long ranges. At the same time, the future force design had to be affordable in an era of tight budgets, sustainable over the long term, and operationally ready at higher rates.{{Cite web |last=Eckstein |first=Megan |date=2020-09-17 |title=Esper Opens Door to Boosting Navy's Shipbuilding Budget to Fund New Force Structure |url=https://news.usni.org/2020/09/16/esper-opens-door-to-boosting-navys-shipbuilding-budget-to-fund-new-force-structure |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=USNI News |language=en-US}}

The task force developed a more balanced Navy of over 500 manned and unmanned ships that was called Battle Force 2045. The plan would reach over 350 traditional line ships prior to 2035 – the year China aimed to fully modernize its military. And the entire battle force would be completed by 2045, four years prior to Beijing's goal of building a world-class military.{{Cite journal |last=Cancian |first=Mark F. |last2=Saxton |first2=Adam |date=2020-10-08 |title=Secretary Esper Previews the Future Navy |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/secretary-esper-previews-future-navy |language=en}}

Under the proposal revealed in October 2020, Battle Force 2045 would include a much larger and more capable submarine force. Esper said, “If we do nothing else, we should invest in attack submarines”, by building three attack submarines a year as soon as possible. Regarding aircraft carriers, the plan made clear that nuclear-powered carriers would remain the nation's most visible deterrent, but the fleet should not necessarily be built around them. Rather, a serious look at light conventional carriers needed to be taken.{{Cite web |title=Tons More Subs, Carriers, and Robot Ships, as Esper Details Vision for ‘Battle Force 2045' and a 500-Ship Navy to Counter China |url=https://csbaonline.org/about/news/tons-more-subs-carriers-and-robot-ships-as-esper-details-vision-for-battle-force-2045-and-a-500-ship-navy-to-counter-china |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=CSBA |language=en}}

The future force would comprise between 140 and 240 unmanned and optionally manned surface and sub-surface vessels that could perform a wide range of missions, from resupply and surveillance to mine laying and missile strikes. These ships would add significant offensive and defensive capabilities to the fleet at an affordable cost in terms of both sailors and dollars. Next, the team determined that the future fleet needed more and smaller surface combatants. Adding sixty to seventy lighter combatants would not only increase capacity to conduct distributed maritime operations but would also free other critical assets for more efficient mission distribution. Lastly, strategic lift and logistics vessels were also a priority given their importance in delivering ground forces to the fight and sustaining distributed operations. Esper was adamant that Battle Force 2045 would be the more lethal, survivable, adaptable, sustainable, and larger force needed to deal with China in the 21st Century.{{Cite web |title=Tons More Subs, Carriers, and Robot Ships, as Esper Details Vision for ‘Battle Force 2045' and a 500-Ship Navy to Counter China |url=https://csbaonline.org/about/news/tons-more-subs-carriers-and-robot-ships-as-esper-details-vision-for-battle-force-2045-and-a-500-ship-navy-to-counter-china |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=CSBA |language=en}}

= NATO and Europe =

File:Acting Secretary of Defense Meets Turkish Minister of National Defense 190626-D-BN624-116.jpg defense minister Hulusi Akar at NATO headquarters in Brussels, June 2019.]]In June 2019, just days after the White House announcement that Trump would nominate him to become Secretary of Defense, and weeks prior to his Senate confirmation, Esper traveled to Brussels for a meeting of NATO defense ministers. During a press conference at NATO headquarters, Esper remarked that he supported NATO, reminding the press corps that he served in the alliance as a U.S. Army officer stationed in Italy in the early 1990s, and worked on alliance issues during his many years in Washington, D.C. policy circles. Esper stated, "We’ve had no change in our commitment to NATO," adding that "My goal is to strengthen our alliance and improve our readiness." He also said that adequate funding by NATO members was critical to the alliance's strength, and that all allies need to live up to their GDP spending commitments as essential to deterring Russian aggression.{{Cite news |last1=Birnbaum |first1=Michael |last2=Lamothe |first2=Dan |date=2019-06-27 |title=Acting Pentagon chief Esper presses NATO on Iran and spending |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/acting-pentagon-chief-esper-presses-nato-on-spending-in-his-international-debut/2019/06/27/b868818e-9698-11e9-9a16-dc551ea5a43b_story.html |access-date=2024-03-26 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web |last=McLeary |first=Paul |date=2019-06-27 |title=In Brussels, Newest Acting SecDef Stresses Continuity |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2019/06/in-brussels-newest-acting-secdef-stresses-continuity/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Esper Attends NATO Defense Ministers Meetings |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/video/693370/esper-attends-nato-defense-ministers-meetings |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}

File:200213-D-AP390-3108 (49673621992).jpg

Esper met with his European counterparts in February 2020 to discuss basing options for a new United States Army headquarters in Europe, bearing the name "V Corps" that had originally been established in World War I but was inactivated while stationed in Germany in 2013. Esper stated the new headquarters was needed to improve military coordination among NATO partners.{{cite news |last1=Youssef |first1=Nancy A. |title=Army Sets Up Base to Coordinate With Europe |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/army-reformulating-v-corps-to-bulk-up-in-europe-11581458468?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=11 |access-date=February 15, 2020 |page=A6 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=February 12, 2020 |archive-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517090215/https://www.wsj.com/articles/army-reformulating-v-corps-to-bulk-up-in-europe-11581458468?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=11 |url-status=live }} Esper had established V Corps when he was Army Secretary a year earlier. This initiative, along with others such as deploying mobile air defense units to Europe and resurrecting the major Cold War exercise of deploying large numbers of U.S. troops annually to the continent for alliance-wide war games, was part of a comprehensive plan to enhance the capabilities of American forces and their NATO counterparts.{{Cite web |last=McLeary |first=Paul |date=2019-10-14 |title=Massive NATO Wargame Seeks To Shore Up Fraying Alliance |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2019/10/massive-nato-wargame-acquisitions-seek-to-shore-up-fraying-alliance/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Wemer |first=David |date=2019-06-24 |title=What to expect from Acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/what-to-expect-from-acting-secretary-of-defense-mark-esper/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Atlantic Council |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Youssef |first=Nancy A. |title=Army Reformulating 'V Corps' to Bulk Up in Europe |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/army-reformulating-v-corps-to-bulk-up-in-europe-11581458468 |access-date=2024-03-26 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}

In response to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which included $738 billion in defense spending, Esper said: "I'm good with those dollars. No complaints."{{cite news |title=The debt and spending deal includes $738 billion for defense, and the Pentagon has 'no complaints' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/30/pentagon-happy-about-new-defense-budget.html |work=CNBC |date=July 30, 2019 |access-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804004128/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/30/pentagon-happy-about-new-defense-budget.html |url-status=live }} Esper provided a framework for members of Congress to insert a proviso in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which guides the naming of military installations.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/long-odds-trump-defense-secretary-esper-has-prepared-resignation-letter-n1245846|title=Long at odds with Trump, Defense Secretary Esper has prepared a resignation letter, say officials|website=NBC News|last1=Kube|first1=Courtney|last2=Lee|first2=Carol E.|date=November 6, 2020|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105235138/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/long-odds-trump-defense-secretary-esper-has-prepared-resignation-letter-n1245846|url-status=live}}

= Firing of the Secretary of the Navy =

File:200917-D-BN624-0462 (50354904431).jpg

On November 24, 2019, during a dispute regarding whether Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher would be stripped of his Trident pin, Esper fired the United States Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer. The Department of Defense attributed the firing to Spencer privately proposing to the White House (without informing Esper and contrary to Spencer's public position) an arrangement to let Gallagher retire while keeping his Trident pin. As reported by the Associated Press, Esper said this undermined the chain of command and was "completely contrary" to what he and the Pentagon leadership had agreed to – allowing the Navy disciplinary process to proceed without White House interference. Esper added "It had undermined everything [allowing the Navy process to go forward without interference] we had been discussing with the president."{{Cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Jamie |date=2019-11-26 |title=Eight things we learned about the Esper, Spencer, Gallagher affair - Washington Examiner |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/daily-on-defense/2723826/eight-things-we-learned-about-the-esper-spencer-gallagher-affair/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Remarks by Secretary Esper in a Press Gaggle |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2026000/remarks-by-secretary-esper-in-a-press-gaggle/https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2026000/remarks-by-secretary-esper-in-a-press-gaggle/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} According to a DOD statement, "Secretary Esper's position with regard to [Uniform Code of Military Justice], disciplinary, and fitness for duty actions has always been that the process should be allowed to play itself out objectively and deliberately, in fairness to all parties."{{Cite web |date=2019-11-26 |title=Esper: Trump barred removal of Navy SEAL; defense chief confirms order from president to Pentagon {{!}} Arkansas Democrat Gazette |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/nov/26/esper-trump-barred-removal-of-navy-seal/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=www.arkansasonline.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=McLaughlin |first=Elizabeth |date=November 25, 2019 |title="Pentagon chief Mark Esper fires Navy Secretary Richard Spencer over handling of Navy SEAL case" |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-ordered-gallagher-allowed-retire-navy-seal-defense/story?id=67292918 |access-date=November 25, 2019 |work=ABC News}} Spencer acknowledged not telling Esper about the proposal. In his CBS interview days later, Spencer said "I will take the bad on me, for not letting him know I did that."{{Cite web |last1=Becket |first1=Stefan |last2=Gunther |first2=Anna |date=2019-11-25 |title=Eddie Gallagher case: Fired Navy Secretary Richard Spencer defends handling of Navy SEAL case - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eddie-gallagher-navy-seal-richard-spencer-fired-navy-secretary-in-interview-defends-handling-of-navy-seal-case/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} On November 25, Esper stated that Trump had ordered him to stop the Navy from conducting a peer review regarding Gallagher's right to wear the pin.{{cite news |last1=Burns |first1=Robert |title=Esper says Trump ordered him to stop SEAL review board |url=https://apnews.com/2148f2182aa64d8c8102967d653b0ba0 |access-date=November 26, 2019 |work=Associated Press |archive-date=November 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126023940/https://apnews.com/2148f2182aa64d8c8102967d653b0ba0 |url-status=live }} Meanwhile, Trump cited the Gallagher case as the primary reason for Esper's firing of Spencer, while also citing "large cost overruns" in the Navy.{{cite news |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Martinez |first2=Luis |title=Pentagon chief Mark Esper fires Navy Secretary Richard Spencer over handling of Navy SEAL case |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pentagon-chief-mark-esper-asks-navy-secretary-richard/story?id=67276450 |access-date=November 25, 2019 |work=ABC News |archive-date=November 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125081201/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pentagon-chief-mark-esper-asks-navy-secretary-richard/story?id=67276450 |url-status=live }}

= Afghanistan peace agreement and withdrawal =

In late January 2019, the U.S. and the Taliban begin bilateral negotiations in Doha, Qatar, agreeing to discuss U.S./NATO military withdrawal, counterterrorism, intra-Afghan talks, and a ceasefire. By the time Esper became Secretary of Defense in July 2019, the so-called "peace deal" was nearly final.{{Cite news |last=Mashal |first=Mujib |date=2019-01-28 |title=U.S. and Taliban Agree in Principle to Peace Framework, Envoy Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/world/asia/taliban-peace-deal-afghanistan.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} The agreement stipulated fighting restrictions for both US and the Taliban; it provided for the withdrawal of all NATO forces from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban's counter-terrorism commitments.{{Cite web |title=U.S.-Taliban Peace Deal: What to Know |url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-taliban-peace-deal-agreement-afghanistan-war |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Council on Foreign Relations |language=en}} In his memoir, Esper described the peace agreement as neither a "great deal" nor a "good deal", but saw it as a "good enough" deal to get the peace process moving forward. Given his view that a military solution to the conflict was improbable, he apparently was not optimistic about the agreement's prospects, but thought it was "worth a try after nearly two decades of fighting and over 2,300 Americans killed".{{Cite web |author1=Aditi Sangal |author2=Kara Fox |author3=Joshua Berlinger |author4=Brad Lendon |author5=Melissa Macaya |author6=Melissa Mahtani |author7=Meg Wagner |date=2021-08-17 |title=August 17, 2021, Afghanistan-Taliban news |url=https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/afghanistan-taliban-us-news-08-17-21/index.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=CNN |language=en}} Esper asserts in his memoir that, because of these factors, he made clear that his and DOD's support for the deal rested on an internal agreement that U.S. implementation be "conditions based". In other words, the U.S. would not continue with the process, and eventually not fulfill its obligations under the deal, unless the Taliban did the same.{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |date=2022 |publisher=William Morrow |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=217–219}}

File:200229-D-AP390-1259 (49603991507).jpg

On February 29, 2020, the Trump administration signed a conditional peace agreement with the Taliban, which called for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan within 14 months, if the Taliban upheld the terms of the agreement.{{cite news |title=Esper: US troops can withdraw 'with or without' Afghan peace deal |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/esper-troops-drawdown-afghan-peace-deal-191217054412919.html |work=Al Jazeera |date=December 17, 2020 |access-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803173844/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/esper-troops-drawdown-afghan-peace-deal-191217054412919.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Defense Secretary Gives Go-Ahead For U.S. Troops To Start Afghan Drawdown |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/02/811276808/defense-secretary-gives-go-ahead-for-u-s-troops-to-start-afghan-drawdown?t=1594713965097 |work=NPR |date=March 2, 2020 |access-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714150257/https://www.npr.org/2020/03/02/811276808/defense-secretary-gives-go-ahead-for-u-s-troops-to-start-afghan-drawdown?t=1594713965097 |url-status=live }} In May 2020, Esper said: "I don't put a timeline on it. We have a timeline of May of next year but that timeline was premised on everything moving at a set pace."{{cite news |title=Esper not confident in Afghanistan troop withdrawal before election |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/05/27/secdef-not-confident-in-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal-before-election/ |work=Military Times |date=May 27, 2020 |access-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714144118/https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/05/27/secdef-not-confident-in-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal-before-election/ |url-status=live }} Esper's statement appeared consistent with his oft-repeated view that implementation of the agreement must be "conditions-based".{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2020-11-13 |title=Exclusive: Esper, on his way out, says he was no yes man |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/11/09/exclusive-esper-on-his-way-out-says-he-was-no-yes-man/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Military Times |language=en}}

Not long thereafter, Trump reportedly pressed his cabinet to accelerate the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, notwithstanding the Taliban's noncompliance with the agreement. He allegedly wanted American forces withdrawn by the November election.{{Cite news |last1=Gibbons-Neff |first1=Thomas |last2=Barnes |first2=Julian E. |date=2020-05-26 |title=Trump Wants Troops in Afghanistan Home by Election Day. The Pentagon Is Drawing Up Plans. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/world/asia/afghanistan-troop-withdrawal-election-day.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Esper pushed back on Trump's timeline because the conditions that would justify withdrawal had not been met - specifically a reduction in violence, progress at the negotiating table, and a credible pledge from the Taliban to publicly renounce al Qaeda, among other terrorist groups. Moreover, Esper wanted the drawdown to be done in a coordinated and deliberate manner, and not in a rushed way that could harm U.S. forces and national security.{{Cite web |last=Tapper |first=Jake |date=2020-11-16 |title=Esper memo warned conditions weren't met for withdrawal from Afghanistan {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/16/politics/esper-memo-troop-withdrawal/index.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |date=2022 |publisher=William Morrow |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=612–614}}

In October 2020, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien asserted that the Afghan withdrawal was heading down to 2,500 troops over the next few months. Trump followed with a tweet saying that the U.S. "should" have the rest of its troops home by Christmas.{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Idrees |date=October 8, 2020 |title=U.S. troops in Afghanistan should be 'home by Christmas': Trump |website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN26S3EW/ }}{{Cite web |last=Feldscher |first=Jacqueline |date=October 16, 2020 |title=O'Brien takes indirect shot at Milley over Afghanistan drawdown |website=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/16/robert-obrien-mark-milley-afghanistan-drawdown-429831 }} Both remarks were viewed as political statements to excite Trump's base just weeks before the November election. The matter marked another major disagreement between Esper/DOD, and the White House.

Esper declined to wade into the matter publicly. Instead, he called together his civilian and military leaders for their views. Days later, Esper purportedly sent the White House a classified memo asserting that it was the unanimous recommendation of the chain of command that the U.S. not draw down its troop presence in Afghanistan any further until conditions were met. Instead, Esper argued that the U.S. military hold at 4,500 service members in country.{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |date=2022 |publisher=William Morrow |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=612–619}}

A senior administration source said the Esper memo expressed concerns that further reductions with conditions unmet, not to mention a precarious withdrawal from the country, could alienate US allies, who at the time provided more service members in Afghanistan than the US; risk "Green-on-Blue" attacks on American service members by anxious Afghan soldiers; erode the credibility and standing of the US around the world; impact the Afghan military, which relies on US "enablers" such as logistics and air support; and, perhaps most importantly, undermine efforts to get the Taliban to live up to their end of the peace agreement. In his memoir, Esper stated that the U.S. did have leverage with the Taliban: "the threat of U.S. forces not leaving Afghanistan and, even more compelling, the resumption of U.S. military operations against the Taliban". Esper added that as much as he wanted to exit Afghanistan, the best course available remained a political agreement that achieved the original purpose behind the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan - to "decimate al Qaeda" and ensure Afghanistan "never again became a safe haven for terrorists who wanted to attack the United States." As such, he reportedly argued for "strategic patience" accompanied by a willingness to use military force or "do whatever else was necessary to ensure compliance with the agreement".{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |date=2022 |publisher=William Morrow |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=619}}

On November 17, 2020, eight days after Esper's departure, Trump directed the reduction of U.S. forces to 2,500 troops. Esper's views on Afghanistan and pushback on Trump's desires to accelerate the drawdown reportedly contributed to his dismissal on November 9.{{Cite web |last=Tiron |first=Roxana |date=November 17, 2020 |title=Trump Orders Troop Drawdown in Iraq, Afghanistan by Jan. 15 |website=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-17/trump-administration-orders-troop-drawdown-in-iraq-afghanistan }}

= Withdrawal of U.S. forces from Germany =

File:President Trump Visits with the President of Poland (50044008817).jpg, and Polish president Andrzej Duda at the White House on June 24, 2020.{{cite news |title=Trump, Poland's Duda discuss sending some U.S. troops to Poland from Germany |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-poland/trump-polands-duda-discuss-sending-some-u-s-troops-to-poland-from-germany-idUSKBN23V2PP |publisher=Reuters |date=June 24, 2020 |access-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714154943/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-poland/trump-polands-duda-discuss-sending-some-u-s-troops-to-poland-from-germany-idUSKBN23V2PP |url-status=live}}|left]]

In 2020, Trump directed the Pentagon to remove 11,800 of the nearly 35,000 American troops stationed in Germany.{{cite news |title=Donald Trump accuses Germany of 'making a fortune' off US soldiers |url=https://www.dw.com/en/trump-nato-germany/a-54451443 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=5 August 2020 |access-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024233946/https://www.dw.com/en/trump-nato-germany/a-54451443 |url-status=live}} Trump said the move was partially influenced by U.S. frustration with the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, owned by Russia's Gazprom; cited Germany's unwillingness to spend more on defense in support of NATO and accused Germany of being "very delinquent"; and said of Germany: "They make a fortune off the troops. They build cities around our troops. ... We'll let ourselves get rich first." While Trump framed the withdrawal as an act of retribution against the Germans, Esper cited a different rationale, framing the decision in strategic terms,Paul D. Shinkman, [https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2020-07-29/esper-contradicts-trump-in-announcing-troop-withdrawal-from-germany Esper Contradicts Trump in Announcing Troop Withdrawal From Germany] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026061341/https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2020-07-29/esper-contradicts-trump-in-announcing-troop-withdrawal-from-germany |date=October 26, 2020}}, U.S. News & World Report (July 29, 2020). although he acknowledged that Trump's anger at German military spending "accelerated" the process.Grace Segers, [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-withdraw-12000-american-troops-germany-nato/ U.S. to withdraw 12,000 American troops from Germany] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024065620/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-withdraw-12000-american-troops-germany-nato/ |date=October 24, 2020}}, CBS News (July 29, 2020). Esper agreed with Trump that Germany was a "rich country" that "can and should pay more for its defense."{{cite news |title=US to withdraw or relocate more troops in Germany than previously thought |url=https://www.dw.com/en/us-to-withdraw-or-relocate-more-troops-in-germany-than-previously-thought/a-54367804 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=July 29, 2020 |access-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022220918/https://www.dw.com/en/us-to-withdraw-or-relocate-more-troops-in-germany-than-previously-thought/a-54367804 |url-status=live}}

File:Esper JMRT Visit.jpg

The idea for a significant reduction of troops from Germany originated from the White House, where it was pushed by two Trump advisers, Robert C. O'Brien and Richard Grenell.{{cite news|first1=Zachary |last1=Cohen |first2=Vivian |last2=Salama |first3=Barbara |last3=Starr |title=Germany troop withdrawal highlights rising fortunes of two White House allies amid Esper's isolation|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/politics/germany-troop-withdrawal-obrien-grenell-esper-isolation-pentagon-tensions-trump/index.html|date=June 26, 2020|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 6, 2020|archive-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703091708/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/politics/germany-troop-withdrawal-obrien-grenell-esper-isolation-pentagon-tensions-trump/index.html|url-status=live}} Esper had fended off Trump's demands to withdraw troops from Europe for months, citing a strategic review he had underway for all combatant commands, including U.S. European Command (EUCOM). Defense Department officials, largely cut off from the final troop withdrawal decision, feared a partial withdrawal from Germany would inhibit regional defenses against Russia. Despite significant concerns, Esper avoided publicly criticizing the plan and worked to implement Trump's directive in a way that wouldn't harm national security.

Esper reportedly directed European Command to develop options that met five key principles: 1) strengthen NATO, 2) reassure Allies, 3) enhance Russian deterrence, 4) improve U.S. strategic flexibility and EUCOM's operational agility, and 5) take care of American service members and their families. Esper's five key principles for troop withdrawal were met by the final plan EUCOM presented; the plan was further approved by the Pentagon. Though the final plan withdrew troops from Germany, it reunited these forces with like ones or their parent units in other allied countries. Additionally, combat forces and headquarters were deployed further east, closer to the Russian border, to enhance deterrence, security, and operation readiness.{{Cite web |last=Sisk |first=Richard |date=2020-08-05 |title=Army V Corps Headquarters Will Be First Unit to Move to Poland |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/08/05/army-v-corps-headquarters-will-be-first-unit-move-poland.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Military.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2020-10-20 |title=Esper hints that the 2nd Cavalry Regiment could be heading closer to Russia |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/10/20/esper-hints-that-the-2nd-cavalry-regiment-could-be-heading-closer-to-russia/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Military Times |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath, Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |date=May 2022 |publisher=William Morrow |isbn=978-0-06-314431-6 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=418–422}}

File:US Romanian Bilateral Exchange (50437854116).jpg

Esper reportedly believed that Trump's demand for speedy troop withdrawal was logistically impossible and strategically risky. As a result, Esper did not return as many forces to the United States, as desired by White House staff. The Associated Press reported that "A number of NATO diplomats and officials have suggested the pullout—which would be costly and might not even be logistically possible before the U.S. elections in November—probably won't happen."{{Cite web|first=Lorne|last=Cook|agency=Associated Press|date=June 17, 2020|title=Esper seeks to reassure NATO over US troop plans|website=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/126810fa4b979c53174d64d02bc15560|access-date=October 22, 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027034606/https://apnews.com/article/126810fa4b979c53174d64d02bc15560|url-status=live}}

Trump's announcement of the withdrawal of U.S. troops was made without consultation with Germany or other NATO allies. In June 2020, Esper traveled to NATO headquarters in Brussels to meet privately with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg to brief him on his plans and to reassure him that the U.S. would not announce any further troop movements or reductions without first consulting with NATO allies.

In June 2020, Trump said at a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda that the United States planned to move some U.S. troops from Germany to Poland. Esper backed Trump's decision, saying that the Pentagon wants to send more troops to the Baltic states, Poland and Romania, consistent with the final force redeployment plan he approved a few months later.{{cite news |title=US mulls moving troops from Germany to Romania, Baltics and Poland, Esper says |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/us-mulls-moving-troops-from-germany-to-romania-baltics-and-poland-esper-says-1.640232 |work=Stars and Stripes |date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026191426/https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/us-mulls-moving-troops-from-germany-to-romania-baltics-and-poland-esper-says-1.640232 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=US mulls moving troops from Germany to Romania, Baltics and Poland, Esper says |url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/us-mulls-moving-troops-from-germany-to-romania-baltics-and-poland-esper-says-1.640232 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Stars and Stripes |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=US, Romania sign defense cooperation deal |url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/us-romania-sign-defense-cooperation-deal-1.648015 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Stars and Stripes |language=en}}

= COVID-19 pandemic =

File:201022-D-FW736-1019 (50517562827).jpg

The Department of Defense's role in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-January 2020, when the department began tracking cases worldwide. On February 1, 2020, weeks before the first person in the U.S. would succumb to the virus, the Defense Department implemented its pandemic global response plan.{{Cite web |title=Washington state man becomes first U.S. death from coronavirus |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/1st-coronavirus-death-u-s-officials-say-n1145931 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=NBC News |date=February 29, 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2020-03-23 |title=U.S. military to send field hospitals to New York, Seattle |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-military-idUSKBN21A357 |access-date=2023-05-01}}

Three days prior, on January 29, 2020, the military welcomed the first plane load of Americans evacuated from China into March Reserve Air Base in California, and then quarantined and cared for them for several weeks. This type of operation occurred multiple times over a period of months across several military installations and states.{{Cite web |last=Seck |first=Hope Hodge |date=2020-02-01 |title=4 More Military Bases Tapped to House Coronavirus Evacuees |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/02/01/4-more-military-bases-tapped-house-coronavirus-evacuees.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Military.com |language=en}}

On January 30, a week after the first COVID case in America was detected, Esper issued the first of what would eventually become a dozen medical guidance memos to the department on how to protect the military and civilian personnel from COVID.{{Cite news |last=Rabin |first=Roni Caryn |date=2020-01-21 |title=First Patient With Wuhan Coronavirus Is Identified in the U.S. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/21/health/cdc-coronavirus.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=1st patient diagnosed with coronavirus in U.S. released from hospital |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/1st-patient-diagnosed-coronavirus-u-s-released-hospital-n1129201 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=NBC News |date=February 3, 2020 |language=en}}

As the coronavirus outbreak turned into a pandemic in early March 2020 Esper said that "My No. 1 priority remains to protect our forces and their families."{{Cite news|last1=Schmitt|first1=Eric|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/us/politics/esper-trump-military-coronavirus.html|title=Defense Secretary Warns Commanders Not to Surprise Trump on Coronavirus|date=March 2, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 15, 2020|last2=Cooper|first2=Helene|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315072438/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/us/politics/esper-trump-military-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}} The following week, Esper directed the deployment of two Navy hospital ships, the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy, to take pressure off New York and Los Angeles hospitals as they coped with the pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Burgess |first1=Richard R. |title=Esper Orders Navy to Ready Hospital Ships to Take Pressure Off U.S. Hospitals |url=https://seapowermagazine.org/esper-orders-navy-to-ready-hospital-ships-to-take-pressure-off-u-s-hospitals/ |website=Seapower |date=March 18, 2020 |access-date=March 19, 2020 |archive-date=March 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319193826/https://seapowermagazine.org/esper-orders-navy-to-ready-hospital-ships-to-take-pressure-off-u-s-hospitals/ |url-status=live }} Esper also authorized the Defense Department to provide civilian health authorities with five million respirator masks and 2,000 specialized ventilators.{{cite web |last1=Burns |first1=Robert |title=Esper: Pentagon to give respirator masks, ventilators to HHS |date=March 17, 2020 |url=https://apnews.com/c10792dbe708b0b1d15fe5515600030a |work=Associated Press |access-date=March 19, 2020 |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318173202/https://apnews.com/c10792dbe708b0b1d15fe5515600030a |url-status=live }}

In early April 2020, Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly removed Navy Captain Brett Crozier from command of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt after Crozier pleaded with Navy leaders to move more quickly to in the face of a coronavirus outbreak on the ship. Esper defended Modly's decision.{{cite web |last1=Cole |first1=Devan |title=Esper defends removing USS Theodore Roosevelt commander who sounded alarm over coronavirus |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/05/politics/mark-esper-uss-theodore-roosevelt-defends-removal-cnntv/index.html |website=CNN |date=April 5, 2020 |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409191800/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/05/politics/mark-esper-uss-theodore-roosevelt-defends-removal-cnntv/index.html |url-status=live }} Within days, widespread condemnation led Modly to resign. Esper named James McPherson, Under Secretary of the Army, to replace him.{{cite web |last1=Martinez |first1=Luis |title=Acting Navy secretary resigns after carrier remarks, Esper names replacement |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/acting-navy-secretary-submits-resignation-carrier-remarks/story?id=70023727 |website=ABC News |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414130512/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/acting-navy-secretary-submits-resignation-carrier-remarks/story?id=70023727 |url-status=live }}

File:Esper visits FEMA, April 15, 2020.jpg headquarters in Washington, D.C., during the COVID-19 pandemic, April 15, 2020]]

At a White House briefing on March 18, 2020, Esper said the Army Corps of Engineers met with New York officials and proposed building Alternate Care Facilities (ACFs) to create more bed space in anticipation of accelerating COVID caseloads. The first location was designated at the Javits Center in New York City, which soon became the largest hospital in the country with a 2,500 bed capacity.{{Cite web |title=Corps of Engineers Takes On 28 COVID-19 Bed Facilities |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2154305/corps-of-engineers-takes-on-28-covid-19-bed-facilities/https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2154305/corps-of-engineers-takes-on-28-covid-19-bed-facilities/ |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |title=Corps of Engineers Converts NYC's Javits Center Into Hospital |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2133514/corps-of-engineers-converts-nycs-javits-center-into-hospital/https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2133514/corps-of-engineers-converts-nycs-javits-center-into-hospital/ |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Peter |title=Governor Cuomo Accepts Recommendation of Army Corps of Engineers for Four Temporary Hospital Sites in New York |url=https://news.hamlethub.com/brewster/publicsafety/12207-governor-cuomo-accepts-recommendation-of-army-corps-of-engineers-for-four-temporary-hospital-sites-in-new-york |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.hamlethub.com |language=en-gb}}

Eventually, the Defense Department set up 38 ACFs nationwide and deployed hundreds of medical professionals to over 30 major metropolitan areas across the country.{{Cite web |title=Army Corps Set to Deliver 28 More COVID-19 Alternate Care Facilities {{!}} 2020-04-18 {{!}} Engineering News-Record |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/49214-army-corps-set-to-deliver-28-more-covid-19-alternate-care-facilities |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.enr.com |language=en}}

Separately, the Pentagon opened 16 certified coronavirus testing labs, made available up to 5 million respirator masks and other personal protective equipment from its own reserves, distributed up to 2,000 deployable ventilators to the Department of Health and Human Services, and began transporting testing equipment and medical items from overseas providers.{{Cite web |last=Seligman |first=Lara |date=2020-03-18 |title=Trump deploying hospital ships to coronavirus hot zones |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/18/trump-navy-ship-coronavirus-new-york-harbor-135732 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}

On March 24, 2020, Esper held the first of many "virtual town halls" for service members, Department of Defense employees, and their families to address the pandemic.{{Cite web |title=Coronavirus: Timeline |url=https://www.defense.gov/Spotlights/Coronavirus-DOD-Response/Timeline/ |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}} In order to lessen the burden on all Defense Department personnel while ensuring continued operations in a safe manner, Esper noted that the Department of Defense was transitioning to a conditions-based, phased approach to personnel movement and travel. He also announced that the Pentagon was providing commanders with additional guidance as they look to change health protection condition levels at Department of Defense installations. The guidelines were structured to support risk-based decision-making in line with local conditions, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, and in consultation with medical leadership, as Commanders' begin to return to normal operations .{{Cite web |title=Videos |url=https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Videos/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}

On April 5, 2020, the Secretary of Defense issued Guidance on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=April 5, 2020 |title=Media.Defense.Gov |url=https://media.defense.gov/2020/Apr/05/2002275059/-1/-1/1/DOD-GUIDANCE-ON-THE-USE-OF-CLOTH-FACE-COVERINGS.PDF |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=Media.Defense.Gov}} two days after the CDC issued a national recommendation to do so, making the Defense Department the first governmental agency to implement this action. Esper told ABC News that "we are going to take every measure to protect our troops."{{Cite web |last1=III |first1=Leo Shane |last2=Altman |first2=Howard |date=2020-04-05 |title=SECDEF issues guidelines for how troops will start wearing face coverings in public to prevent COVID-19 spread |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/04/05/troops-to-start-wearing-face-masks-in-public-to-prevent-coronavirus-spread/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Military Times |language=en}}

On April 14, 2020, Esper announced the extension of a travel freeze on military members and Department of Defense civilian employees. The original order to stop movement was to last for 60 days, but Esper said that additional time was needed to stop the spread of the virus.{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Ellen |title=Pentagon to extend troop movement freeze past May 11 |url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/492823-pentagon-to-extend-troop-movement-freeze-past-may-11/ |website=The Hill |date=April 14, 2020 |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417141310/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/492823-pentagon-to-extend-troop-movement-freeze-past-may-11 |url-status=live }} Several days following the announcement, Esper extended the freeze through June 30, 2020.{{cite web |last1=Crawford |first1=Jamie |title=Esper to extend travel restrictions for Defense Department personnel |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/18/politics/defense-department-travel-restrictions-coronavirus/index.html |website=CNN |date=April 18, 2020 |access-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429040952/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/18/politics/defense-department-travel-restrictions-coronavirus/index.html |url-status=live }}

Despite the Department of Defense's efforts, and bipartisan support from most members of Congress, a few lawmakers, retired officers and experts criticized Esper's response to the coronavirus. According to Politico, there was some discontent within the Department of Defense about Esper's centralized planning/decentralized action approach to the issue. Esper primarily left it up to local commanders in terms of how they would implicate his guidance and respond to the pandemic, which resulted in uneven responses.{{Cite web |date=2020-05-22 |title=Defense officials push Trump for longer National Guard deployment to fight virus |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/22/national-guard-deployments-mark-esper-274628 |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} Following this story, in a late April 2020 letter, ten Democratic senators called Esper's leadership "disjointed and slow", saying that DoD's civilian leadership had "failed to act sufficiently, quickly, and has often prioritized [combat] readiness at the expense of the health of service members and their families."{{Cite web|title=Senate Democrats rip Pentagon's coronavirus response in letter to Esper|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/us/senate-democrats-rip-pentagon-s-coronavirus-response-in-letter-to-esper-1.627734|website=Stars and Stripes|access-date=June 2, 2020|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612142610/https://www.stripes.com/news/us/senate-democrats-rip-pentagon-s-coronavirus-response-in-letter-to-esper-1.627734|url-status=live}} A Pentagon spokesman defended DoD's handling of the pandemic stating: "as the Secretary has restated time and time again, our top priorities are our service members, their families and all of our civilian contract personnel, and continuing our national security missions to include help the American people confront this crisis". The spokesman said Esper "made a clear, unambiguous decision to provide constant guidance to senior civilian and military leaders", including issuing force health protection guidance starting in late January, but reiterated that "diverse missions have diverse levels of flexibility."{{cite web |last1=Kheel |first1=Rebecca |title=Senate Democrats pan Esper for 'failed' coronavirus response |url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/494923-senate-democrats-pan-esper-for-failed-coronavirus-response/ |website=The Hill |date=April 27, 2020 |access-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429051652/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/494923-senate-democrats-pan-esper-for-failed-coronavirus-response |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Katie Bo |title=Pentagon's Esper Was Too Slow With Coronavirus Response, Senate Democrats Say |url=https://www.defenseone.com/politics/2020/04/pentagons-esper-too-slow-coronavirus-response-senate-democrats-say/164956/ |website=Defense One |date=April 27, 2020 |access-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429000828/https://www.defenseone.com/politics/2020/04/pentagons-esper-too-slow-coronavirus-response-senate-democrats-say/164956/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=May 7, 2020 |title=Letter to Senator James Inhofe, Chairman Senate Armed Services Committee |url=https://media.defense.gov/2020/Jul/14/2002456734/-1/-1/1/SECRETARY-ESPER-LETTER-TO-SENATE-ARMED-SERVICES-COMMITTEE-CHAIRMAN-JAMES-INHOFE-REGARDING-COVID-19.PDF |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=Media.Defense.Gov}}

Esper personally responded to the criticism in a letter to the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator James Inhofe, stating that the allegations were "false and misleading assertions" given the weekly updates provided by the Defense Department to Congress, adding that the department has been "ahead of need at every step" and "met or exceeded every request for assistance we have received."{{Cite web |last=Kheel |first=Rebecca |date=2020-05-08 |title=Esper escalates war of words with Warren, Democratic senators |url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/496821-esper-escalates-war-of-words-with-warren-democratic-senators/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}

Esper also pushed back on the letter's criticism of his delegation of many decision to local commanders, calling that "standard military practice that goes back decades". He further noted "to somehow suggest that the guidance went out to people that don't know how to implement it is just ridiculous", highlighting the "extensive" medical staffs of service secretaries and commanders to whom the memos were issued.{{Cite web |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=May 22, 2020 |title=Transition To Conditions-based Phased Approach To Coronavirus Disease 2019 Personnel Movement and Travel Restrictions |url=https://media.defense.gov/2020/May/26/2002305766/-1/-1/1/TRANSITION-TO-CONDITIONS-BASED-PHASED-APPROACH-TO-%20COVID-19-PERSONNEL-MOVEMENT-AND-TRAVEL-RESTRICTIONS.PDF |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=Media.Defense.Gov}}{{Cite web |title=Combatant Commands |url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Combatant-Commands/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}

Supporters of the Department of Defense said these criticisms failed to account for the fact that, despite DoD being on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight for over three months, only one active duty service member had succumbed to the virus.{{Cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Jamie |date=2020-05-29 |title=As Pentagon prepares for 'new normal,' it shows dramatic effect of early use of strict safety protocols |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/as-pentagon-prepares-for-new-normal-it-shows-dramatic-effect-of-early-use-of-strict-safety-protocols |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Washington Examiner |language=en}} Others pointed out that many of the ten Democrats who signed the letter were under active consideration to be Joe Biden's running mate in the 2020 presidential election, suggesting this was a political act to burnish their own credentials for the job.{{Cite web |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=2020-04-09 |title=The Top 10 women Joe Biden might choose as his VP {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/09/politics/joe-biden-vp-vice-president-pick/index.html |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-04-11 |title=Here are top contenders for Joe Biden's vice presidential candidate |url=https://nypost.com/2020/04/11/here-are-top-contenders-for-joe-bidens-vice-presidential-candidate/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |language=en-US}}

A thought piece by the center-left Brookings Institution supported Esper's actions, stating that "part of the success to-date in keeping COVID-19 out of the ranks is due to the prudence of commanders around the country and the world, who have been given flexibility by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to take measures they deem appropriate.".{{Cite web |first1=Thomas |last1=Burke |first2=Chesley |last2=Dycus |first3=Michael E. |last3=O'Hanlon |first4=Eric |last4=Reid |first5=Jessica |last5=Worst |date=2020-04-22 |title=COVID-19 and military readiness: Preparing for the long game |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/04/22/covid-19-and-military-readiness-preparing-for-the-long-game/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Brookings |language=en-US}} Esper's approach was also consistent with guidance put out by Dr. Anthony Fauci, a distinguished physician and immunologist.{{Cite web |last=LeBlanc |first=Paul |date=2020-05-01 |title=Fauci says states should have 'wiggle room' on reopening but cautions: 'Don't wiggle too much' {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/30/politics/fauci-states-federal-government-coronavirus-cnntv/index.html |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=CNN |language=en}}

In May 2020, at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe, Esper briefly interacted with seven WWII veterans who had requested a photo opportunity with him. The veterans, all between the ages of 96 and 100, were not wearing facemasks, nor was Esper. In response to critics, the administration said that Esper and the veterans were tested before the event and had generally followed social distancing guidelines.{{Cite news|first1=Alex|last1=Horton|first2=Adriana|last2=Usero|date=May 8, 2020|title=Defense Secretary Esper stood beside World War II veterans — without a mask|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2020/05/08/wwiimemorial-trump-esper|access-date=June 2, 2020|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725110013/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2020/05/08/wwiimemorial-trump-esper/|url-status=live}} The organization sponsoring the veterans stated that the men all wanted to hold the ceremony despite COVID, and none reported getting ill following it.{{Cite web |date=2020-05-09 |title=Defense Secretary Esper stands beside World War II veterans without a mask |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30387561 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=nationthailand.com |language=en}}

In his memoir, Esper stated that by November 2020, the Defense Department had lost "only one active duty service member--out of 1.2 million--to COVID-19." The broader U.S. population, he asserts, had a mortality rate that was 365 times greater, demonstrating that the actions taken by the military during his tenure had been successful.{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn=9780063144316 |location=New York |pages=268 |language=English}}

= Operation Warp Speed =

On May 15, 2020, the president announced the establishment of "Operation Warp Speed", the administration's national program to accelerate the development of COVID-19 medical countermeasures. The Defense Department would work with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a public-private partnership to develop, produce, and distribute a COVID vaccine by the end of 2020. Esper and HHS Secretary Alex Azar co-led this effort.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-12 |title=Alex Azar's Story of the Genesis of Operation Warp Speed |url=https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/alex-azars-story-of-the-genesis-of-operation-warp-speed/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Penn LDI |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-12 |title=Former Trump Official: The Program to Develop COVID-19 Vaccines Was a Success, But Communication Could've Been Better |url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2022/05/former-trump-official-program-develop-covid-19-vaccines-was-success-communication-couldve-been-better/366524/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Government Executive |language=en}}

Amid widespread skepticism that discovering a COVID vaccine in less than nine months was possible,{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=John |date=May 12, 2020 |title=Unveiling 'Warp Speed', the White House's America-first push for a coronavirus vaccine |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/unveiling-warp-speed-white-house-s-america-first-push-coronavirus-vaccine |website=Science.org}} the efforts of HHS and DOD resulted in the development of two vaccines by November, both with efficacy rates above 90%.{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Katie |date=2020-11-17 |title=The Vaccines Will Probably Work. Making Them Fast Will Be the Hard Part. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/health/coronavirus-vaccine-operation-warp-speed.html |access-date=2023-07-27 |issn=0362-4331}} The Food and Drug Administration approved both vaccines for emergency use one month later.{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Berkeley Lovelace |date=2020-12-12 |title=FDA approves Pfizer's Covid vaccine for emergency use as U.S. reaches pivotal moment in the pandemic |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/11/pfizer-covid-vaccine-approved-fda-emergency-use.html |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=CNBC |language=en}} Production and distribution of the vaccines accelerated thereafter, with nearly one million Americans vaccinated daily by the time the Biden Administration took office on January 20, 2021.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-22 |title=Biden's 100-Day Vaccine Goal Was Nearly Met Before He Arrived |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-22/biden-s-million-dose-a-day-goal-sets-a-bar-that-s-nearly-met |access-date=2023-07-27}} It has been estimated that Operation Warp Speed saved over 140,000 American lives, well over $1 trillion, and millions of jobs in the first six months alone of the vaccines' use.{{Cite web |title=Mission accomplished: How America achieved the 'impossible' with COVID vaccines |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/12/12/covid-vaccines-how-americans-came-together-achieve-impossible/6460211001/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-13 |title=Report: COVID-19 vaccines saved US $1.15 trillion, 3 million lives {{!}} CIDRAP |url=https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/report-covid-19-vaccines-saved-us-115-trillion-3-million-lives |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.cidrap.umn.edu |language=en}}

In his memoir, Esper cited the success of Operation Warp Speed - along with maintaining the readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces, providing extensive DOD medical support to cities and localities across the country, and losing only one active duty service member to COVID - as an important accomplishment for the Defense Department during the pandemic.{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath |publisher=William Morrow |year=2022 |isbn= 978-0063144316 |pages=275–292}}

= George Floyd protests and Insurrection Act =

{{wikisource|Mark Esper's Remarks on the Insurrection Act amid Anti-Racism Protests}}

Public outrage over the May 25, 2020, murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by a police officer gave way to destructive protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The night of May 28, demonstrators ignited the Third Precinct Police Station. The next morning, Esper, along with General Mark Milley and Attorney General Bill Barr, privately discouraged Trump from invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy military troops to Minneapolis.{{Cite news |last=Mannix |first=Andy |date=2023-04-29 |title='No joy': Pentagon emails show National Guard preparing for mission hours before Third Precinct burned |work=Star Tribune |url=https://www.startribune.com/pentagon-emails-national-guard-was-standing-by-in-minneapolis-hours-before-third-precinct-burned/600271189/ |access-date=2023-07-07}}

On June 1, 2020, amid widening nationwide civil unrest, Trump at one point demanded the deployment of 10,000 active-duty troops to the streets of Washington and other U.S. cities in a heated meeting in the Oval Office with Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, who opposed this request.{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=David|title=Trump demanded 10,000 active-duty troops deploy to streets in heated Oval Office meeting|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-demanded-10000-active-duty-troops-deploy-to-streets-in-heated-oval-office-meeting/|publisher=CBS News|date=June 7, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020|archive-date=June 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625082214/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-demanded-10000-active-duty-troops-deploy-to-streets-in-heated-oval-office-meeting/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Trump wanted to deploy 10,000 troops in Washington D.C., official says|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minneapolis-police-protest-troops/trump-wanted-to-deploy-10000-troops-in-washington-dc-official-says-idUSKBN23E0DY|first=Phil|last=Stewart|work=Reuters|date=June 7, 2020|access-date=August 17, 2020|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817170430/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minneapolis-police-protest-troops/trump-wanted-to-deploy-10000-troops-in-washington-dc-official-says-idUSKBN23E0DY|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|first1=Barbara |last1=Starr |first2=Sarah |last2=Westwood |first3=Lauren |last3=Fox |first4=Sunlen |last4=Serfaty|title=White House wanted 10k active duty troops to quell protesters|date=June 7, 2020|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/politics/white-house-10k-troops-protesters/index.html|access-date=August 17, 2020|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819013611/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/politics/white-house-10k-troops-protesters/index.html|url-status=live}} Trump's spokesperson Alyssa Farah and Attorney General William Barr denied that Trump had requested the deployment of 10,000 active-duty troops, with Barr saying instead that Trump wanted troops on "standby."

Esper participated in a June 1 call with state governors, Trump, and Barr, in which Trump urged governors to "dominate" and use aggressive methods.{{Cite web|title=READ: President Trump's call with US governors over protests|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/politics/wh-governors-call-protests/index.html|access-date=2020-06-26|website=CNN|date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625172431/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/politics/wh-governors-call-protests/index.html|url-status=live}} During the call, Esper said, "I think the sooner that you mass and dominate the battlespace, the quicker this dissipates and we can get back to the right normal." General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, similarly spoke about the need to "dominate the battlespace" during that same call.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Ryan |title=Donald Trump Phone Call Transcript With Governors After Protests: "You Have to Dominate" & "Most of You Are Weak" |url=https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-phone-call-transcript-with-governors-george-floyd-protests |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Rev Blog |language=en-US}} Esper's comment that American cities were a "battlespace" prompted criticism,Jack Detsche, [https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/03/defense-secretary-esper-military-deployed-protesters-george-floyd-trump-election/ The Pentagon Distances Itself From Trump] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816234332/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/03/defense-secretary-esper-military-deployed-protesters-george-floyd-trump-election/ |date=August 16, 2020 }}, Foreign Policy (June 3, 2020).Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt and Jennifer Steinhauer, [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/us/politics/military-national-guard-trump-protests.html Former Commanders Fault Trump's Use of Troops Against Protesters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818012128/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/us/politics/military-national-guard-trump-protests.html |date=August 18, 2020 }}, New York Times (June 2, 2020). including from former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Martin E. Dempsey and former Special Operations Command head Raymond A. Thomas. At a subsequent press conference, Esper said that he did not intend the use of the term to focus "on people, and certainly not on our fellow Americans."{{cite web |title=Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Press Conference Transcript: Does Not Support Military Response to Protests |url=https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/secretary-of-defense-mark-esper-press-conference-transcript-does-not-support-military-response-to-protests |website=REV |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-date=June 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629050415/https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/secretary-of-defense-mark-esper-press-conference-transcript-does-not-support-military-response-to-protests |url-status=live }} Subsequent news reports said that Esper mistakenly used the common Pentagon term alarmed after the previous meeting that Trump intended to use active duty troops to quell the protests if the governors failed to use their National Guard troops.{{Cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael S. |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |date=2021-06-25 |title=Trump Aides Prepared Insurrection Act Order During Debate Over Protests |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/25/us/politics/trump-insurrection-act-protests.html |access-date=2024-03-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

File:President Trump Visits St. John's Episcopal Church (49964153176).jpg for a photo op. Esper is pictured directly behind Trump.]]

On June 1, Esper walked alongside Trump to a photo op in front of St. John's Episcopal Church outside the White House; just prior, police in riot gear and mounted police cleared protestors who started throwing bricks and other projectiles after police began using smoke and flash grenades and a chemical irritant spray{{cite web |last1=Gelles |first1=Karl |title=How police pushed aside protesters ahead of Trump's controversial church photo |website=USA Today |date=June 5, 2020 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2020/06/05/george-floyd-protests-trump-church-photo-curfew-park/3127684001/ |access-date=10 June 2020 |archive-date=June 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610043855/https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2020/06/05/george-floyd-protests-trump-church-photo-curfew-park/3127684001/ |url-status=live }} from Lafayette Square, clearing a path for Trump, Esper and several other Trump administration officials.{{Cite news|last1=Baker|first1=Peter|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|last3=Rogers|first3=Katie|last4=Kanno-Youngs|first4=Zolan|last5=Benner|first5=Katie|last6=Willis|first6=Haley|last7=Triebert|first7=Christiaan|last8=Botti|first8=David|date=June 2, 2020|title=How Trump's Idea for a Photo Op Led to Havoc in a Park|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/us/politics/trump-walk-lafayette-square.html|access-date=June 4, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200606045227/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/us/politics/trump-walk-lafayette-square.html|url-status=live}} Esper's participation in the photo op was criticized by a number of retired senior military officers.Stephen Collinson, [https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/politics/donald-trump-james-mattis-esper-protests/index.html Military leaders condemn Trump over protest response] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604160221/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/politics/donald-trump-james-mattis-esper-protests/index.html |date=June 4, 2020 }}, CNN (June 4, 2020).{{Cite web|last=Kheel|first=Rebecca|date=2020-06-08|title=Army briefs House panel on response to DC protests|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/501757-army-briefs-house-panel-on-response-to-dc-protests/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=The Hill|language=en|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706033135/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/501757-army-briefs-house-panel-on-response-to-dc-protests|url-status=live}}

Two days later, at a Pentagon press conference, Esper said, regarding the Lafayette Park photo op, that, "Well, I did know that we were going to the church. I was not aware of a photo op was happening," adding, "And look, I do everything I can to try to stay apolitical and try and stay out of situations that may appear political. And sometimes I'm successful at doing that, and sometimes I'm not as successful, but my aim is to keep the department out of politics to stay apolitical."{{Cite web|title=Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Press Conference Transcript: Does Not Support Military Response to Protests|url=https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/secretary-of-defense-mark-esper-press-conference-transcript-does-not-support-military-response-to-protests|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Rev|language=en-US|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629050415/https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/secretary-of-defense-mark-esper-press-conference-transcript-does-not-support-military-response-to-protests|url-status=live}}

File:Mark Esper 200602-D-XI929-1011 (49967501642).jpg

Esper broke with Trump by publicly opposing invocation of the Insurrection Act of 1807 and the deployment of active-duty troops in American cities, saying that "the National Guard is best suited for performing domestic support to civil authorities ... I say this not only as Secretary of Defense, but also as a former soldier, and a former member of the National Guard. The option to use active duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort, and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now. I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act."{{Cite news|last1=Schmitt|first1=Eric|last2=Cooper|first2=Helene|last3=Gibbons-Neff|first3=Thomas|last4=Haberman|first4=Maggie|date=2020-06-03|title=Esper Breaks With Trump on Using Troops Against Protesters|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/us/politics/esper-milley-trump-protest.html|access-date=2020-06-26|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626201528/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/us/politics/esper-milley-trump-protest.html|url-status=live}} Esper took steps in the following days to further de-escalate the situation, removing weapons and ammunition from the National Guard, and returning troops to their home bases without notifying the White House. Trump reportedly considered firing Esper over the situation.{{Cite news|last1=Sonne|first1=Paul|last2=Nirappil|first2=Fenit|first3=Josh|last3=Dawsey|title=Pentagon disarms National Guard activated in D.C., sends active-duty forces home|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/pentagon-disarms-guardsmen-in-washington-dc-in-signal-of-de-escalation/2020/06/05/324da91a-a733-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html|access-date=2020-06-26|date=2020-06-05|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626181515/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/pentagon-disarms-guardsmen-in-washington-dc-in-signal-of-de-escalation/2020/06/05/324da91a-a733-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html|url-status=live}}

On June 6, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) invited Esper and Milley to testify before the committee regarding the events of June 1; they declined. Chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in statement that the pair "have not 'refused' to testify'" and that the department's "legislative affairs team remains in discussion" with the committee.{{Cite web|last=Mehta|first=Aaron|date=2020-06-08|title=House Armed Services Committee, Pentagon clash over Esper and Milley testimony|url=https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2020/06/05/esper-milley-wont-testify-before-the-house/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Defense News|language=en-US|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200608155739/https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2020/06/05/esper-milley-wont-testify-before-the-house/|url-status=live}} HASC chairman Representative Adam Smith later acknowledged in a written letter that Esper and Milley may have been prevented from appearing by the White House.{{Cite web|title=Defense committee chairman expresses 'profound frustration' with Esper|url=https://news.yahoo.com/defense-committee-chairman-expresses-profound-212422224.html|access-date=2020-07-06|website=Yahoo! News|language=en-US|archive-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707070701/https://news.yahoo.com/defense-committee-chairman-expresses-profound-212422224.html|url-status=live}} Esper and Milley subsequently agreed to appear before the House Armed Services Committee on July 9.{{Cite web|last=Kheel|first=Rebecca|date=2020-06-30|title=Pentagon leaders set to testify before House panel July 9|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/505214-pentagon-leaders-set-to-testify-before-house-panel-july-9/|access-date=2020-07-06|website=The Hill|language=en|archive-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707001156/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/505214-pentagon-leaders-set-to-testify-before-house-panel-july-9|url-status=live}} In the meantime, on June 8, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy briefed the committee on the presence of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., on June 1, which was during the protests.

Days later, Esper and Milley responded in detail to a series of questions asked of them by HASC chairman Smith regarding events during the week of June 1. Smith later said the Pentagon had been "reasonably cooperative" in providing witnesses to the committee amid logistical issues during the coronavirus pandemic.

= Addressing diversity and inclusion in the U.S. military =

File:200715-D-XI929-1023.jpg

Amid the nationwide racial unrest beginning in late May 2020, Esper directed Pentagon civilian and uniformed leaders to come up with ideas that could be used to quickly improve equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion in the Armed Forces; established an internal Defense Board on Diversity and Inclusion in the Military to recommend ways to increase racial diversity and ensure equal opportunity across all ranks, especially in the officer corps, by December 2020; and created a Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in the Armed Services, mirroring the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services.{{Cite news|last=Cooper|first=Helene|date=2020-06-25|title=Addressing Diversity, Army Will Remove Photos of Officer Candidates in Promotion Reviews|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/us/politics/army-pentagon-race-promotions.html|access-date=2020-07-01|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628184941/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/us/politics/army-pentagon-race-promotions.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Mark Esper announces 3 initiatives to improve racial equity in military|url=https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/06/18/Mark-Esper-announces-3-initiatives-to-improve-racial-equity-in-military/5351592509388/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=UPI|language=en|archive-date=July 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701235911/https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/06/18/Mark-Esper-announces-3-initiatives-to-improve-racial-equity-in-military/5351592509388/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Esper to create DOD boards to study military diversity, says Pentagon must lead on the issue|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/us/esper-to-create-dod-boards-to-study-military-diversity-says-pentagon-must-lead-on-the-issue-1.634305|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Stars and Stripes|archive-date=July 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701185243/https://www.stripes.com/news/us/esper-to-create-dod-boards-to-study-military-diversity-says-pentagon-must-lead-on-the-issue-1.634305|url-status=live}}

On June 18, 2020, Esper said that while the Defense Department has often led on issues of race and discrimination, he cited underrepresentation of minorities in the officer ranks as a particular problem.{{Cite web|title=Secretary Mark T. Esper Message to the Force on DOD Diversity and Inclusiveness|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2224494/secretary-mark-t-esper-message-to-the-force-on-dod-diversity-and-inclusiveness/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US|archive-date=July 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701232841/https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2224494/secretary-mark-t-esper-message-to-the-force-on-dod-diversity-and-inclusiveness/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Pentagon launches plan to increase diversity, end discrimination in military|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jun/18/mark-esper-rolls-out-plan-increase-diversity-milit/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=The Washington Times|language=en-US|archive-date=July 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701235539/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jun/18/mark-esper-rolls-out-plan-increase-diversity-milit/|url-status=live}}

= Confederate base names and symbols =

File:200715-D-XI929-1026.jpg

In the summer of 2020 the issue of Confederate symbols on Defense Department installations reached a fever pitch in the wake of the George Floyd killing and social justice protests. Esper and Trump differed on the matter. Esper supported the renaming of military bases named after Confederate generals. The president rejected the idea, later threatening to veto the National Defense Authorization Act if Congress inserted a provision to change the base names.{{Cite web |author1=Barbara Starr |author2=Ryan Browne |author3=Nicole Gaouette |date=2020-11-09 |title=Trump fires Secretary of Defense Mark Esper {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/politics/trump-fires-esper/index.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2020-11-13 |title=Exclusive: Esper, on his way out, says he was no yes man |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/11/09/exclusive-esper-on-his-way-out-says-he-was-no-yes-man/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Military Times |language=en}}

In the weeks leading up to the November election, Esper was reportedly speaking with defense committee leaders in Congress who were drafting a bipartisan provision to rename the bases in order to help shape the final version. Word of this engagement may have reached the White House and added to the President's decision to dismiss him weeks later. A military official reported that Esper felt this issue was important to the morale and readiness of the force, while a DOD spokesman said "As is normal and expected, the department works with Congress to provide the administration's concerns and views regarding proposed defense-related legislation - particularly when House and Senate versions of defense bills are being reconciled and finalized".{{Cite web |date=2020-11-05 |title=Defense Secretary Esper has prepped resignation letter, say officials |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/long-odds-trump-defense-secretary-esper-has-prepared-resignation-letter-n1245846 |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=NBC News |language=en}} Congress eventually passed the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, with both the House and Senate approving bipartisan provisions that laid out a process to change the names of DOD bases named after Confederate generals and replace them.{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Connor |date=July 23, 2020 |title=Senate clears bill removing Confederate names from military bases, setting up clash with Trump |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/23/senate-defense-bill-ndaa-bases-trump-380362 |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=Politico}}{{Cite web |last=Byrd |first=Haley |date=2020-07-21 |title=House passes $740 billion funding bill that would remove Confederate names from military bases {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/21/politics/house-to-vote-ndaa-confederate-names-military-bases/index.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=CNN |language=en}}

A related issue was the flying of the Confederate flag on DOD installations. In July 2020, Esper issued a memo that banned the flying of all flags other than the U.S. flag and those of U.S. states, allied countries, and military units.{{Cite web |title=Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper Guidance on Public Display or Depiction of Flags in |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/release/article/2278101/secretary-of-defense-dr-mark-t-esper-guidance-on-public-display-or-depiction-of/https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2278101/secretary-of-defense-dr-mark-t-esper-guidance-on-public-display-or-depiction-of/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The memo did not mention the Confederate flag by name, so it effectively banned a host of other flags as well. Esper later stated, in defense of the memo, that his aim was to remove any real or perceived politics from the department. Esper was later criticized by the LGBTQ community for banning the display of all non-official flags because the Pride flag, like many other groups' flags, was no longer authorized for display. This policy was affirmed by the Biden Administration in 2021.{{Cite web |title=Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2647056/pentagon-press-secretary-john-f-kirby-holds-a-press-briefing/https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2647056/pentagon-press-secretary-john-f-kirby-holds-a-press-briefing/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

= Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation =

File:201027-D-BN624-0179 (50537563941).jpgIn October 2020, Esper and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh to sign the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on Geospatial Cooperation (BECA), which facilitates the sharing of sensitive information and intelligence—including access to highly-accurate nautical, aeronautical, topographical, and geospatial data—between the United States and India. The agreement had been under discussion for over a decade, but previous concerns over information security impelled India's United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition government to block it.{{Cite news|title=Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-for-geo-spatial-cooperation/articleshow/78820683.cms|access-date=2020-11-04|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101001937/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-for-geo-spatial-cooperation/articleshow/78820683.cms|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Homan|first=Timothy R.|date=2020-10-27|title=US signs satellite data-sharing pact with India, warns of Chinese threats|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/522943-us-signs-satellite-data-sharing-pact-with-india-warns-of-chinese-threats/|access-date=2020-11-04|website=The Hill|language=en|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101231803/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/522943-us-signs-satellite-data-sharing-pact-with-india-warns-of-chinese-threats|url-status=live}}

=Firing by Trump and subsequent events=

After Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden, Trump launched a months-long effort to challenge the election outcome and remain in power, claiming that the election had been "stolen" from him.{{cite web|first=John L.|last=Dorman|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/esper-trump-campaign-2020-election-challenges-national-embarrassment-courts-book-2022-5|title=Mark Esper says the Trump campaign's months-long effort to challenge the 2020 election was 'a national embarrassment': book|work=Business Insider|date=May 10, 2022|access-date=December 17, 2023}} In his subsequent memoir, published in 2022, Esper wrote that Trump's effort "was a national embarrassment that undermined our democracy, our credibility, and our leadership on the world stage."

On November 9, 2020, days after his election loss, Trump tweeted that Esper was "terminated," and that he had been replaced by Christopher C. Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center who would serve as Acting Secretary of Defense.{{cite news|last=Shabad|first=Rebecca|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-tweets-defense-secretary-mark-esper-has-been-terminated-n1247138|title=Trump tweets that Defense Secretary Mark Esper has been 'terminated'|work=NBC News|date=November 9, 2020|access-date=November 9, 2020|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109183141/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-tweets-defense-secretary-mark-esper-has-been-terminated-n1247138|url-status=live}} Esper had written his resignation letter four days earlier, when a winner had not yet been determined.{{cite web |last1=Kube |first1=Courtney |last2=Lee |first2=Carol |title=Long at odds with Trump, Defense Secretary Esper has prepared a resignation letter, officials say |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/long-odds-trump-defense-secretary-esper-has-prepared-resignation-letter-n1245846 |department=NBC News |publisher=NBC Universal |access-date=November 9, 2020 |date=November 5, 2020 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108152036/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/long-odds-trump-defense-secretary-esper-has-prepared-resignation-letter-n1245846 |url-status=live }}

On January 2, 2021, days before the end of Trump's term and the inauguration of Biden, Esper, along with all other living former secretaries of defense, published a Washington Post op-ed piece in January 2021 that rebuked Trump's effort to alter the election results, and said there was no role for the military to change them. The group's piece appeared days after Trump ally Michael Flynn, an ex-Army general, and reportedly Trump himself, discussed the possibility of declaring martial law and attempting to stay in power. The group wrote: "Our elections have occurred. Recounts and audits have been conducted. Appropriate challenges have been addressed by the courts. Governors have certified the results. And the electoral college has voted. The time for questioning the results has passed; the time for the formal counting of the electoral college votes, as prescribed in the Constitution and statute, has arrived."{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/former-defense-secretaries-rebuke-trump-election/2021/01/03/1c708f64-4de5-11eb-b2e8-3339e73d9da2_story.html|title=All 10 living former defense secretaries: Involving the military in election disputes would cross into dangerous territory|access-date=January 3, 2021|date=January 3, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Dan|last=Lamothe|language=en-US}} Esper later wrote that Trump's behavior on January 6, when a mob of his supporters, incited by the president, attacked the Capitol and disrupted the counting of the electoral votes, "threatens our democracy."Mark Joyella, [https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2022/05/09/on-fox-news-former-defense-secretary-donald-trumps-actions-on-january-6-threatens-our-democracy/?sh=1ece265a3307 Former Defense Secretary Says Donald Trump's Behavior On January 6 'Threatens Our Democracy'], Forbes (May 9, 2022).

After the administration

=Memoirs, book tour, and Trump criticism=

Esper sued the Department of Defense in November 2021, for preventing publication of parts of his memoir.{{Cite web|last=Vlamis|first=Kelsey|date=2021-11-29|title=Trump's Defense Secretary Mark Esper is suing the Defense Department, claiming it's wrongfully censoring his memoir|url=https://africa.businessinsider.com/politics/trumps-defense-secretary-mark-esper-is-suing-the-defense-department-claiming-its/lmm8t7v|access-date=2021-11-29|website=Business Insider Africa|language=en}} The suit was dropped three months later, after DoD had withdrawn "the overwhelming majority" of objections to material initially deemed classified.{{cite news |title=Former Pentagon chief Mark Esper drops lawsuit over memoir |url=https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-mark-esper-99601005584d6fe8818cc3605d063a01 |publisher=Associated Press |date=February 6, 2022}}

Published in May 2022, Esper's memoir A Sacred Oath describes the Trump administration's decision-making process being overtaken by concerns about the upcoming presidential election. He said he considered resigning several times but remained on, concerned he would be replaced by a Trump loyalist who would provide dangerous ideas to the president. Esper wrote that Trump asked him at least twice if the Pentagon could "shoot missiles into Mexico to destroy the drug labs" and "no one would know it was us." During the 2020 George Floyd protests, Trump sought to deploy 10,000 active duty troops in Washington, asking Esper about protestors, "Can't you just shoot them?" He wrote Trump's top domestic policy advisor Stephen Miller sought to send 250,000 troops to the southern border on the premise that a large caravan of migrants was en route; Esper wrote he responded the Pentagon did not "have 250,000 troops to send to the border for such nonsense." As White House officials watched a live video feed of the raid that killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Esper said Miller proposed beheading al-Baghdadi, dipping his head in pig's blood and parading it around to warn other terrorists. He said he told Miller that would be a war crime; Miller flatly denied the episode occurred. Esper characterized Trump as "an unprincipled person who, given his self-interest, should not be in the position of public service."{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |title=Trump Proposed Launching Missiles Into Mexico to 'Destroy the Drug Labs,' Esper Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/05/us/politics/mark-esper-book-trump.html |work=The New York Times |date=May 5, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trumps-former-pentagon-chief-says-s-unfit-office-rcna57689|title=Trump's former Pentagon chief says he's 'unfit for office'|work=MSNBC|date=November 17, 2022 |accessdate=2022-11-17}}

Esper gave several interviews in 2022 as part of his book tour.Jennifer Schuessler, [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/12/us/democracy-trump.html Trump's Former Aides and Advisers on the Peril He Poses], New York Times (May 12, 2022).Matt Wilstein, [https://www.thedailybeast.com/stephen-colbert-colbert-grills-mark-esper-for-cashing-in-on-trump-secrets Stephen Colbert Grills Mark Esper for Cashing In On Trump Secrets], Daily Beast (May 2022). He described himself in TV interviews and in his memoir as a "Reagan Republican" who is a "fiscal conservative, social moderate, and defense hawk."{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |title=A Sacred Oath |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2022 |isbn=978-0063144316}} In an interview on Fox & Friends, Esper said that Trump "went too far in too many things."{{Cite web |date=2022-05-11 |title=Mark Esper: Trump went 'too far in too many things' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/video/6305941777112 |access-date=2023-02-12 |work=Fox News Fox & Friends |publisher=Fox News |language=en-US}} He said he supported the 2021 impeachment of Trump, in which the president was impeached for inciting the January 6 attack on the Capitol, part of a failed bid to overturn Trump's election loss and keep him in power. In an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Colbert pressed Esper on why he criticized Trump in his memoirs, but did not criticize Trump while still in office, or inform the public about what was going on. Esper defended himself as a "circuit breaker" against Trump's most dangerous and erratic tendencies.

In an open letter published in September 2022, Esper, along with Jim Mattis (who preceded him as defense secretary under Trump), as well as a bipartisan group of former top U.S. generals and former defense secretaries, said that the failure to commit to a peaceful transfer of power worsened "an extremely adverse environment" for the U.S. military. The 16-point letter did not mention Trump by name, but was a clear critique of Trump and his followers; the signatories wrote: "Military officers swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution, not an oath of fealty to an individual or to an office. It is the responsibility of senior military and civilian leaders to ensure that any order they receive from the president is legal."{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Helene |date=2022-09-06 |title=Former Pentagon Leaders Warn of a Dangerous Era |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/06/us/politics/trump-military-letter.html |access-date=2023-09-30 |issn=0362-4331}}

In a December 2022 interview, Esper said he supported a merit-based immigration system. In 2023, after a high-altitude Chinese spy balloon was detected and shot down after transiting the U.S., U.S. officials disclosed that three suspected Chinese spy balloons had previously transited the continental United States during the Trump administration, with the intrusions only discovered sometime after Biden took office in January 2021. Esper said that, while in office, he was unaware of previous incidents of Chinese surveillance balloons in U.S. airspace. The Biden administration offered a briefing to top former Trump officials, including Esper, on the new intelligence.[https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/05/trump-officials-deny-chinese-spy-balloons-00081257 Biden admin offers to brief Trump officials on past Chinese spy balloon incursions], Politico (February 5, 2023).{{cite web |last1=Bertrand |first1=Natasha |title=Chinese spy balloons under Trump not discovered until after Biden took office |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/05/politics/chinese-spy-balloons-trump-administration/index.html |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=CNN|date=February 6, 2023 }}{{cite web |last1=Myre |first1=Greg |title=This wasn't the first Chinese balloon over the U.S. Why were the others ignored |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/02/06/1154767882/this-wasnt-the-first-chinese-balloon-over-the-u-s-why-were-the-others-ignored |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=NPR}}[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2023/feb/13/us-shoots-down-flying-objects-ufo-biden-china-balloon-latest-news?page=with:block-63eab7e28f082572e3bba18c#block-63eab7e28f082572e3bba18c Biden administration forming team to study unidentified aerial objects – as it happened]{{Cite web |date=2023-02-08 |title=Mark Esper warns China's spy flight is beginning of greater threats: 'The tip of the iceberg' {{!}} Fox News Video |url=https://www.foxnews.com/video/6319979375112 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}

Other activities

Esper is currently the Distinguished Chair of the Modern War Institute (MWI) at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.{{Cite web |title=Hon. Mark T. Esper |url=https://mwi.usma.edu/staff/hon-mark-t-esper/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Modern War Institute |language=en-US}}

In 2021, Esper was named the first John S. McCain Distinguished Fellow at the McCain Institute for International Leadership, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank; he is also a member of the institute's board of trustees.{{Cite web |last=Castronuovo |first=Celine |date=2021-03-04 |title=Former Trump Defense chief Esper to join McCain Institute |url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/541678-former-trump-defense-chief-esper-to-join-mccain-institute/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Board of Trustees |url=https://www.mccaininstitute.org/about/leadership/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=McCain Institute |language=en-US}}

Also in 2021, Esper joined the board of directors for the Atlantic Council,{{Cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/about/board-of-directors/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Atlantic Council |language=en-US}} and was named co-chair (along with Deborah Lee James) of a commission tasked with making recommendations to the Pentagon reform on improving the Defense Department's ability "to rapidly absorb commercial technologies" from the private sector in order to enhance the U.S. military's warfighting capabilities.{{Cite press release |last=jsiegel |date=2022-06-21 |title=Atlantic Council announces new commission to reform the defense innovation ecosystem |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/news/press-releases/atlantic-council-announces-new-commission-to-reform-the-defense-innovation-ecosystem/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Atlantic Council |language=en-US}} In December 2023, the Atlantic Council announced that Esper would be chairing a new commission on Software-Defined Warfare.{{Cite web |title=Commission on Software-Defined Warfare |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/scowcroft-center-for-strategy-and-security/forward-defense/commission-on-software-defined-warfare/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Atlantic Council |language=en-US}}

Esper joined the International Advisory Council of GLOBSEC, a European-based global think tank, in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Dr. Mark T. Esper Joins GLOBSEC International Advisory Council |url=https://www.globsec.org/what-we-do/press-releases/dr-mark-t-esper-joins-globsec-international-advisory-council |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=GLOBSEC - A Global Think Tank: Ideas Shaping the World |language=en}}

In April 2022, the Washington-based venture capital firm Red Cell Partners announced that Esper had joined the firm as a Partner and chairman of its national security practice;{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=Joe |date=2022-04-14 |title=Esper joins venture capital firm Red Cell |url=https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2022/04/13/esper-joins-venture-capital-firm-red-cell/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Defense News |language=en}} he is also a member of Red Cell's board of directors.{{Cite web |title=Leadership & Team – Red Cell Partners, LLC. |url=https://www.redcellpartners.com/leadership-and-team/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=www.redcellpartners.com |language=en}}

Esper is a frequent guest on news shows such as CNN, CNBC, Fox News, and Bloomberg, and participates in the professional speaking circuit through the Harry Walker Agency and the Worldwide Speakers Group.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-10 |title=Mark Esper - Worldwide Speakers Group |url=https://wwsg.com/speakers/mark-esper/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |language=en-US}}

He is also a member of the Aspen Strategy Group,{{Cite web |title= Aspen Strategy Group Archives|url=https://www.aspeninstitute.org/team/aspen-strategy-group/}} the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition,{{Cite web |title=Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper Joins USGLC National Advisory Council |url=https://www.usglc.org/newsroom/former-u-s-secretary-of-defense-dr-mark-t-esper-joins-usglc-national-advisory-council/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=USGLC |language=en-US}} and the Council on Foreign Relations.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Defense Priorities and Policies: A Conversation With Secretary Mark T. Esper |url=https://www.cfr.org/event/us-defense-priorities-and-policies-conversation-secretary-mark-t-esper-0 |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Council on Foreign Relations |language=en}}

Awards

File:210407-Z-DZ751-1061 (51103420471).jpg

In 2018, The George Washington University presented Esper with its Distinguished Alumni Award for his service as Secretary of the Army.{{Cite web |title=Alumni Awards {{!}} The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration {{!}} The George Washington University |url=https://tspppa.gwu.edu/alumni-awards |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration |language=en}}

Esper received the George C. Marshall Foundation's Andrew J. Goodpaster Award (2021){{Cite web |title=The Andrew J. Goodpaster Award |url=https://www.marshallfoundation.org/about-us/awards-programs/andrew-j-goodpaster-award/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=The George C. Marshall Foundation |date=February 17, 2022 |language=en-US}} and the Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute's "Peace Through Strength" Award (2022).{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.reaganfoundation.org/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=www.reaganfoundation.org |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Reagan National Defense Forum 2022: Peace Through Strength Awards Ceremony | date=December 4, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVjNm_C7q7g |language=en |access-date=2023-01-05}}

The President of Lithuania awarded Esper the Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania on March 22, 2023, in the capital, Vilnius.{{Cite news |last=TBT Staff |date=March 22, 2023 |title=Lithuanian president awards ex-US defense secretary, Portugal's defense chief |work=The Baltic Times |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/lithuanian_president_awards_ex-us_defense_secretary__portugal_s_defense_chief/}}

On May 20, 2023, Esper received the Military Hero Award by the PenFed Foundation at its annual gala in Washington, D.C.{{Cite press release |last=Foundation |first=PenFed |title=PenFed Foundation Gala Raises Over $1.3 Million for Military Community |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/penfed-foundation-gala-raises-over-1-3-million-for-military-community-301831715.html |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}

Taiwan Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng presented Esper with the "Order of Resplendent Banner with Grand Cordon" on behalf of the Republic of China on August 23, 2023, in Taipei, for his support of Taiwan's security.{{Cite tweet |last=Esper |first=Mark |date=September 8, 2023 |user=MarkTEsper |number=1700242202067095801 |title="Special thanks to Taiwan President Tsai @iingwen & Minister of @MoNDefense Chiu Kuo-cheng for presenting me the Order of Resplendent Banner with Grand Cordon at a ceremony on 8/23 for my work in support of Taiwan's national security & partnership with the U.S. Forward together!"}}

Personal life

Esper married Leah Lacy in 1989.{{Cite web|url=https://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/2020/04/23/mark-esper-secretary-of-defense/|title=Mark Esper, Secretary of Defense|date=April 23, 2020|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=Presidential Prayer Team|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611201056/https://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/2020/04/23/mark-esper-secretary-of-defense/|url-status=live}} They have three children.[https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1378166/dr-mark-t-esper/ Defense.gov (July 23, 2019) Dr. Mark T. Esper: Secretary of Defense] Department of Defense biography{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/people/mark-esper/|title=Mark Esper|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=The Hill|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611052559/https://thehill.com/people/mark-esper|url-status=live}}

Books

{{Cite book |last=Esper |first=Mark |year=2022 |title=A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times |location=New York |publisher=William Morrow |isbn=9780063144316 |oclc=1286367288}}

References

External links

{{Cite web |url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1378166/dr-mark-t-esper/ | title = Dr. Mark T. Esper > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography | publisher = U.S. Department of Defense | access-date = November 5, 2019}}
{{C-SPAN|1009100}}

{{s-bef|before=Ryan McCarthy
{{small|Acting}}}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States Secretary of the Army|years=2017–2019}}

{{s-bef|before=Patrick M. Shanahan
{{small|Acting}}}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States Secretary of Defense
{{small|Acting}}|years=2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Richard V. Spencer
{{small|Acting}}}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States Secretary of Defense|years=2019–2020}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Cabinet Member}}|years=}}

Category:1964 births

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:21st-century American politicians

Category:American lobbyists

Category:American manufacturing businesspeople