Chuck Hagel

Chuck Hagel
Official portrait, 2013
Chuck Hagel
Born	Charles Timothy Hagel 4 10, 1946
Birthplace	North Platte, Nebraska, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman, professor
Known for	24th United States Secretary of Defense; U.S. Senator from Nebraska (1997–2009)
Education	University of Nebraska Omaha (BGS)
Children	2
Awards	Purple Heart (×2), Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge

Charles Timothy Hagel (born October 4, 1946) is an American politician, businessman, and United States Army veteran who served as the 24th United States Secretary of Defense from February 2013 to February 2015 under President Barack Obama. Before leading the Department of Defense, Hagel represented the state of Nebraska in the United States Senate for two terms, from 1997 to 2009, as a member of the Republican Party. A decorated Vietnam War combat veteran who received two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained while serving as an infantry squad leader, Hagel's military experience shaped much of his political career and his approach to national security policy. Born in North Platte, Nebraska, he rose from modest beginnings to become a successful businessman — co-founding Vanguard Cellular, one of the early cellular telephone companies in the United States — before entering public service. His tenure as Secretary of Defense was marked by efforts to modernize the U.S. military and confront emerging threats, including the rise of the ISIL. He also served as chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board from 2009 to 2013 and has held academic positions, including a professorship at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Early Life

Charles Timothy Hagel was born on October 4, 1946, in North Platte, Nebraska, a small city in the western part of the state along the Platte River. He grew up in a working-class family in the Great Plains region. His father died when Hagel was a teenager, an event that placed additional responsibilities on the young man and his family. Hagel has spoken publicly about how his upbringing in rural Nebraska instilled in him values of hard work, self-reliance, and community service.

In 1967, at the age of 20, Hagel was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He served in the 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division as an infantry squad leader in South Vietnam. The experience was formative and harrowing. Hagel served alongside his younger brother Tom, and on at least one occasion, Tom saved Chuck's life during combat. Hagel was wounded in action twice during his service, earning two Purple Heart medals for his injuries. He also received the Army Commendation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross for his service.

Hagel attained the rank of Sergeant before leaving active duty in 1968. His combat experience in Vietnam profoundly influenced his later views on military intervention and the use of American force abroad. Throughout his political career, Hagel frequently referenced his wartime service as a lens through which he evaluated military policy, often cautioning against the casual deployment of troops without clear objectives and exit strategies. His oral history of his Vietnam service is preserved at the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project.

Education

After returning from Vietnam, Hagel pursued higher education. He attended Brown College before enrolling at the University of Nebraska Omaha, where he earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree. His educational path was not that of a typical politician; Hagel did not attend an Ivy League institution or a prestigious law school. Instead, he obtained his education at a public university in his home state while simultaneously beginning to build a career in business and public affairs. His connection to the University of Nebraska Omaha has remained strong throughout his career, and the institution continues to host the annual Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service, which brings together high school students from across the Omaha metropolitan area to explore themes of leadership and civic engagement.

Career

Business Career

Before entering politics, Hagel built a successful career in business and the private sector. He co-founded Vanguard Cellular, one of the early cellular telephone companies in the United States, which became the primary source of his personal wealth. He also served as president of the McCarthy Group, an investment banking firm based in Omaha, Nebraska. Additionally, Hagel served as chief executive officer of American Information Systems Inc. (later known as Election Systems & Software), a company that manufactured computerized voting machines.

Hagel also served on the boards of directors of several major corporations, including Chevron Corporation, prior to his appointment as Secretary of Defense. His private sector experience gave him a perspective on national security that extended beyond traditional military and diplomatic considerations to include issues of energy security and global economic interdependence.

United States Senate (1997–2009)

Hagel entered electoral politics in 1996, running for the United States Senate seat in Nebraska being vacated by the retiring J. James Exon. He won the election as a Republican, marking his first bid for public office. He was reelected in 2002 by a substantial margin.

During his twelve years in the Senate, Hagel served on several key committees and became known for his independent streak within the Republican caucus, particularly on matters of foreign policy and national security. His Vietnam War service informed his approach to military and diplomatic issues, and he was often willing to break with his party's leadership when he believed the circumstances warranted it.

Foreign Policy and Iraq War

Hagel initially voted in favor of the 2002 authorization for the use of military force in Iraq. However, as the Iraq War progressed, he became one of the most prominent Republican critics of the George W. Bush administration's handling of the conflict. By 2007, Hagel was a vocal opponent of the troop surge in Iraq, joining with Democrats to challenge the administration's strategy.

Hagel's willingness to criticize the Iraq War strategy put him at odds with many members of his own party and earned him both praise and criticism. He argued that the United States needed to pursue diplomatic solutions and that military action alone could not resolve the complex sectarian and political issues in Iraq. He supported diplomatic engagement in the broader Middle East and cautioned against military overextension.

In a 2006 profile, The New York Times explored Hagel's independent foreign policy positions and his willingness to challenge prevailing Republican orthodoxy on the Iraq War and other issues.

Defense and National Security

Throughout his Senate career, Hagel was active on defense-related votes and issues. He participated in key votes on defense appropriations and military policy, drawing on his personal military experience to inform his positions. He also voted on legislation related to the treatment of detainees held by the United States, including measures concerning habeas corpus rights for detainees, an issue that attracted significant attention during the War on Terror.

Hagel voted on the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and related legislation that shaped the legal framework for the detention and trial of suspected terrorists.

Global Health and the GI Bill

Hagel supported legislation to combat global health challenges, including funding to fight AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. He was also involved in efforts related to veterans' benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which expanded educational benefits for veterans who served after September 11, 2001. Senator Jim Webb of Virginia was the primary sponsor of the legislation, and Hagel was among those who supported the effort to provide enhanced educational opportunities for a new generation of veterans.

Other Legislative Positions

Hagel cast votes on a range of domestic and international issues during his Senate tenure, including budget resolutions and fiscal policy.

Decision Not to Seek Reelection

In 2008, Hagel announced that he would not seek a third term in the Senate. He also chose not to run for president, despite considerable speculation that he might enter the 2008 presidential race. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Hagel drew attention for his willingness to appear alongside Democratic candidate Barack Obama on an overseas trip, further underscoring his reputation as an independent-minded Republican. Hagel also called for winding down U.S. operations in Afghanistan, arguing that extended military engagement without clear strategic objectives was unsustainable.

His Senate seat was subsequently won by Mike Johanns, a fellow Republican who had previously served as governor of Nebraska and as United States Secretary of Agriculture.

Post-Senate and Intelligence Advisory Board (2009–2013)

After leaving the Senate, Hagel remained active in public life. He was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB), a position he held from October 28, 2009, to February 27, 2013. He also served concurrently as chairman of the Intelligence Oversight Board. In these roles, Hagel provided the president with independent assessments of the quality and adequacy of intelligence collection, analysis, and estimates, as well as oversight of intelligence activities.

During this period, Hagel also served as chairman of the Atlantic Council, a foreign policy think tank based in Washington, D.C., focused on transatlantic and international security issues. He joined the faculty of Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service as a professor, where he taught and mentored students in international relations and foreign policy.

Secretary of Defense (2013–2015)

Nomination and Confirmation

On January 7, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Hagel to succeed Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense. The nomination was significant in several respects: Hagel was the first enlisted combat veteran to be nominated for the position, and as a Republican nominated by a Democratic president, his selection was intended to signal bipartisan support for national security policy.

However, the confirmation process proved contentious. On February 12, 2013, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved Hagel's nomination by a vote of 14 to 11. On February 14, 2013, Senate Republicans blocked a vote on the nomination, refusing to provide the 60 votes needed to end debate and proceed to a final confirmation vote. This marked the first time in American history that a nominee for Secretary of Defense was subjected to a filibuster. Critics raised concerns about Hagel's past statements on Israel, Iran, and the use of nuclear weapons, as well as his criticism of the Iraq War surge.

On February 26, 2013, the Senate voted for cloture on Hagel's nomination and subsequently confirmed him by a vote of 58 to 41. He took office on February 27, 2013, as Panetta stepped down.

Tenure and Key Issues

As Secretary of Defense, Hagel oversaw the Department of Defense during a period of significant transition and challenge. His tenure was defined by several major policy areas:

Budget and Sequestration: Hagel took office at a time when the U.S. military faced the effects of sequestration — automatic, across-the-board budget cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011. He directed efforts to modernize the armed forces while operating under significant fiscal constraints, a challenge that required difficult decisions about force structure, weapons systems, and personnel policies.

Afghanistan Drawdown: Hagel managed the ongoing drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, working to transition security responsibilities to Afghan forces while maintaining sufficient capability to pursue counterterrorism objectives.

Rise of ISIL: The rapid expansion of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2014 presented one of the most significant national security challenges of Hagel's tenure. The group's territorial gains in Iraq and Syria required a recalibration of U.S. military strategy in the region. Hagel authorized military operations against ISIL, including airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, and worked to build an international coalition to counter the group.

Modernization Efforts: Hagel directed steps to modernize the U.S. military's capabilities, including investments in new technologies and the restructuring of military forces to meet evolving threats in an era of great power competition and asymmetric warfare.

Resignation

On November 24, 2014, it was announced that Hagel would resign as Secretary of Defense. Reports at the time indicated that the resignation came amid conflicts within the Obama administration, particularly regarding the strategy for confronting ISIL and broader questions about the direction of national security policy. Hagel remained in office until February 17, 2015, when his successor, Ash Carter, was confirmed and took office.

Post-Government Career

Following his departure from the Department of Defense, Hagel has remained engaged in public discourse on national security and foreign policy. He has provided commentary on international affairs and military tensions in media appearances. In 2025, he spoke with ABC7 Chicago about rising global military tensions, offering his assessment of the international security environment and the challenges facing U.S. defense policy. He also discussed the strategic implications of proposals regarding Greenland, explaining the potential costs and consequences of such pursuits from a defense perspective.

Personal Life

Chuck Hagel is married and has two children. He has maintained his home and connections in Nebraska throughout his career in Washington. Hagel's personal life has largely remained private, though his military service and the bond with his brother Tom — who served alongside him in Vietnam — have been subjects of public discussion. The brothers' shared combat experience and the occasions on which they saved each other's lives in battle became part of the larger narrative of Hagel's life and public service.

During his tenure as Secretary of Defense, Hagel demonstrated a personal connection to the welfare of troops and veterans. Upon the death of actor and comedian Robin Williams in August 2014, Hagel issued a statement praising Williams as "a true friend" of U.S. troops, noting Williams' longstanding support for service members through USO tours and other appearances. "Robin was a gifted actor and comedian, but he was also a true friend and supporter of our troops," Hagel said in his official statement.

Recognition

Hagel has received recognition for both his military service and his contributions to public life. His military decorations include two Purple Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross.

The University of Nebraska Omaha, his alma mater, honors his legacy through the annual Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service, which brings high school students together to explore themes of leadership, civic engagement, and public service.

His appointment as the first enlisted combat veteran to serve as Secretary of Defense was itself a notable distinction, reflecting the value placed on direct military experience at the highest levels of defense leadership. His chairmanship of the Atlantic Council and his professorships at Georgetown University further underscore the breadth of his engagement in national security and foreign policy beyond his governmental roles.

Legacy

Chuck Hagel's career spans military service, business, the United States Senate, and the leadership of the Department of Defense, making him one of the more multifaceted public figures in modern American political life. His Vietnam War service as an enlisted soldier gave him a perspective on military affairs that distinguished him from many of his contemporaries in the Senate and the Cabinet, most of whom came to defense policy through civilian or officer-corps backgrounds.

In the Senate, Hagel's willingness to challenge his own party on the Iraq War and other foreign policy issues placed him in an unusual position within the Republican Party. His criticism of the Iraq War surge and his advocacy for diplomatic engagement earned him respect among those who valued bipartisanship and independent judgment, while drawing criticism from those who viewed his positions as inconsistent with party loyalty.

As Secretary of Defense, Hagel navigated a period of significant fiscal constraints and evolving threats. His tenure coincided with the rise of ISIL, the continued drawdown in Afghanistan, and the beginning of a broader strategic pivot toward addressing great power competition. While his time at the Pentagon was relatively brief — less than two years — the decisions made during his tenure shaped the trajectory of U.S. defense policy in the years that followed.

Hagel's post-government career has continued to reflect his engagement with the issues that defined his public service. Through his commentary on international affairs, his involvement with educational institutions, and the symposium that bears his name, he has sought to encourage civic engagement and informed public discourse on matters of national security and defense.