Mark Esper

Mark Esper
Official portrait, 2019
Mark Esper
Born	Mark Thomas Esper 26 4, 1964
Birthplace	Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, defense executive, former military officer
Known for	27th United States Secretary of Defense
Education	United States Military Academy (BS) Harvard University (MPA) George Washington University (PhD)
Children	3
Awards	Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service (two awards)

Mark Thomas Esper (born April 26, 1964) is an American politician, defense executive, and retired United States Army officer who served as the 27th United States Secretary of Defense from July 2019 to November 2020. Born in the western Pennsylvania coal town of Uniontown, Esper rose from a modest background to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was commissioned as an infantry officer. He saw combat during the Gulf War with the 101st Airborne Division before transitioning to a career that spanned congressional staffing, defense policy, think-tank leadership, corporate lobbying, and ultimately the highest civilian post in the Department of Defense. Before joining the Trump administration, Esper served as vice president of government relations at defense contractor Raytheon. A member of the Republican Party, Esper first entered the Trump administration as the 23rd United States Secretary of the Army in November 2017 before being elevated to lead the entire defense establishment. His tenure as defense secretary was marked by clashes with President Donald Trump over the potential use of active-duty military forces against domestic protesters, a disagreement that ultimately led to his dismissal by the president via Twitter on November 9, 2020.

Early Life

Mark Thomas Esper was born on April 26, 1964, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, a small city in Fayette County in the southwestern corner of the state. His father, Thomas Joseph Esper, was a resident of the Uniontown area. His uncle was George Esper, a noted Associated Press correspondent who covered the Vietnam War.

Esper grew up in the Laurel Highlands region of Pennsylvania, an area shaped by the coal and steel industries. He attended local schools in the Uniontown area before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. His upbringing in western Pennsylvania's industrial heartland, combined with his family's history of public service, helped shape his trajectory toward military and government careers.

Education

Esper attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army upon graduation in 1986.

Following his active-duty military service, Esper pursued advanced education. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He later completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at George Washington University, where his doctoral dissertation, titled "The role of Congress in the development of the United States' strategic nuclear forces, 1947–1968," was completed in 2008. His academic credentials in public administration and defense policy provided the foundation for his later roles in both government and the private sector.

Additionally, Esper completed education at various military institutions throughout his service, consistent with the professional development requirements expected of Army officers advancing through the ranks to lieutenant colonel.

Career

Military Service

Esper's military career began upon his graduation from West Point in 1986, when he was commissioned as an infantry officer in the United States Army. He served on active duty from 1986 until the mid-1990s, with a total military service record spanning from 1986 to 2007, which included time in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve.

During his active-duty service, Esper was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), with which he deployed to the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War in 1990–1991. He served as an infantry officer in combat operations during that conflict.

Following the Gulf War, Esper served with the 82nd Airborne Division. He also held command of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, part of the Airborne Battalion Combat Team stationed in Vicenza, Italy. He retired from military service at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Congressional and Policy Work

After transitioning from active military service, Esper moved into the policy and legislative arena in Washington, D.C. He served as chief of staff at the Heritage Foundation, one of the most prominent conservative think tanks in the United States. He also worked as a senior congressional staffer, gaining experience in the legislative process and defense policy on Capitol Hill.

Esper additionally served as a deputy assistant secretary of defense during the George W. Bush administration, further cementing his credentials in defense policy. This combination of military, legislative, and executive branch experience positioned him as a prominent figure in the defense policy community.

Private Sector

Esper held several senior positions in the private sector before returning to government. He served as a senior executive at the Aerospace Industries Association, a trade group representing major defense and aerospace manufacturers. He also held positions at the Global Intellectual Property Center and the United States Chamber of Commerce, where he worked on European and Eurasian affairs.

In 2010, Esper joined Raytheon, one of the largest defense contractors in the United States, as vice president of government relations. In this role, he oversaw the company's interactions with Congress, the Department of Defense, and other government entities. His position at Raytheon drew scrutiny when he was later nominated for government positions, given the potential conflicts of interest inherent in a defense lobbyist moving to a senior Pentagon role.

Secretary of the Army

In July 2017, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Esper to serve as the 23rd United States Secretary of the Army. His nomination was submitted to the United States Senate for confirmation. He was confirmed and assumed office on November 20, 2017, serving in the role with Ryan McCarthy as his principal deputy.

As Secretary of the Army, Esper oversaw Army operations, modernization efforts, and personnel policy. During his tenure, he addressed the implementation of the Trump administration's policy regarding transgender military service, which restricted the ability of transgender individuals to serve in the military in certain capacities.

Esper served as Secretary of the Army until July 23, 2019, when he was elevated to lead the entire Department of Defense. Ryan McCarthy succeeded him as acting Secretary of the Army.

Acting Secretary of Defense

Following the resignation of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis in December 2018 and the subsequent tenure of acting secretary Patrick Shanahan, who withdrew from consideration for the permanent position, a vacancy emerged at the top of the Pentagon. On June 24, 2019, Esper was designated as acting Secretary of Defense, succeeding Shanahan. He served in an acting capacity until July 15, 2019, when Richard V. Spencer briefly assumed the acting role while Esper's nomination for the permanent position proceeded through the Senate.

Secretary of Defense

President Trump nominated Esper to serve as the 27th United States Secretary of Defense, and the nomination was forwarded to the Senate for consideration. The Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing on July 16, 2019.

The full Senate confirmed Esper on July 23, 2019, by a vote of 90–8, reflecting broad bipartisan support for his nomination. He was sworn in the same day, succeeding Jim Mattis (with the period between Mattis's departure and Esper's confirmation having been filled by acting secretaries Shanahan and Spencer).

As Secretary of Defense, Esper oversaw the Department of Defense during a period that included rising tensions with Iran, the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, the military response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and significant debates about the role of the military in domestic affairs. He delivered a message to the force in July 2020 marking his first anniversary in the position, highlighting implementation efforts across the department.

Lafayette Square Controversy and Opposition to Insurrection Act

The most consequential moment of Esper's tenure came in June 2020 during widespread protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. As demonstrations spread across the United States, including to areas near the White House, President Trump reportedly urged the use of active-duty military forces to quell domestic unrest. According to Esper's later account in his memoir, Trump asked about shooting protesters in the streets.

Esper publicly broke with the president on June 3, 2020, when he stated at a press conference that he did not support invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops against American citizens. This public disagreement placed Esper at odds with the White House and marked a turning point in his relationship with Trump. His refusal to authorize the use of military force against unarmed protesters was later cited by members of Congress, including Senator Elissa Slotkin, who contrasted Esper's stance with that of subsequent defense officials.

Dismissal

On November 9, 2020, six days after the 2020 presidential election and as President Trump refused to concede to President-elect Joe Biden, Trump announced via Twitter that he had "terminated" Esper as Secretary of Defense. Trump named Christopher C. Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, as acting Secretary of Defense. The dismissal was attributed to the accumulated disagreements between Esper and Trump, particularly over the use of military force domestically and broader tensions regarding the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.

The firing of a defense secretary during the transition period between administrations was unusual and raised concerns among defense analysts and lawmakers about the stability of Pentagon leadership during a sensitive period. Esper's successor in the permanent role was Lloyd Austin, who was nominated by President Biden and confirmed in January 2021.

Post-Government Career

Following his departure from government, Esper published a memoir detailing his experiences as Secretary of Defense, including his account of clashes with President Trump over domestic military deployments and other policy matters. In the book, he described the fraught nature of his relationship with the president, particularly regarding the events surrounding the Lafayette Square protests.

Esper has remained active in defense and national security circles. As of 2025, he has been involved in the defense technology investment space, participating in events focused on defense-related startups and venture capital funding for emerging military technologies. He appeared alongside investor Steve Case at the Station event in Washington, D.C., discussing what investors seek in defense tech startups, including an emphasis on novel technology and secured government contracts.

Personal Life

Esper was born and raised in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. His uncle, George Esper, was a well-known Associated Press journalist who spent more than a decade covering the Vietnam War. Esper has three children.

His father, Thomas Joseph Esper, was a lifelong resident of the Uniontown area.

Esper is a member of the Republican Party. He maintained his ties to the Uniontown community throughout his career in Washington, and his rise to senior government positions was noted with pride in local media coverage in Fayette County.

Recognition

Esper received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service on two occasions, recognizing his contributions to the defense establishment in senior civilian roles.

During his military career, he earned various service medals and decorations consistent with his combat service during the Gulf War and his assignments with elite airborne units including the 101st Airborne Division, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment in Italy.

His confirmation as Secretary of Defense by a vote of 90–8 represented one of the more decisive confirmation margins for a defense secretary in recent years, reflecting the bipartisan support he received from the Senate at the time of his appointment.

Legacy

Mark Esper's tenure as Secretary of Defense is remembered principally for his public refusal to support the use of the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty military forces against American citizens during the June 2020 protests. This decision placed him in direct opposition to President Trump and resulted in his eventual dismissal. His stance was later invoked by members of Congress as a benchmark for civilian oversight of the military and the principle that the armed forces should not be used against domestic populations exercising their constitutional rights.

His career trajectory — from West Point graduate and combat infantry officer to defense lobbyist to the highest civilian position in the Pentagon — illustrated the revolving door between the defense industry and government that has characterized American defense policy in the modern era. His nomination directly from Raytheon's government relations office to the position of Secretary of the Army, and subsequently to Secretary of Defense, drew attention to the relationship between defense contractors and the officials who oversee military procurement and policy.

Esper's post-government involvement in the defense technology startup ecosystem reflects the broader trend of former senior defense officials engaging in the private sector to shape the next generation of military technology and defense innovation.