Several of America's most decorated living veterans are publicly weighing in on who President Trump should choose as his next Army secretary — an unusual intervention in a contest that one administration official described as "a knife fight."
Five of the country's 65 living Medal of Honor recipients shared their views with the New York Post. Three are backing Marc Andersen, the Army's comptroller and assistant secretary for financial management. Two are backing Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief spokesman.
The vacancy opened when Dan Driscoll resigned on Sept. 2 after months of friction with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who had already removed Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George and other senior generals. Driscoll is a close friend and law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance. Hegseth reportedly told Trump last week that he favors either Parnell or Dane Hughes, the department's top legislative affairs official.
The Case for Andersen
Andersen, a former venture capital and consulting executive with deep ties to veterans' charities, has overseen the Army's roughly $200 billion budget since last October, with an emphasis on modernization programs. He is widely seen as the long shot — which is precisely why some recipients chose to speak up.
Britt Slabinski, who received the medal from Trump in 2018 for leading a rescue mission in Afghanistan and now heads the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, urged the president not to take "the easy button pick." He described Andersen as unpretentious and as someone who finishes what he starts, arguing that too many appointees treat these posts as caretaker jobs.
Leroy Petry, who lost his hand throwing a live grenade away from fellow soldiers in Afghanistan, said Andersen is already excelling in his current role and understands the strain Army life places on families. "The troops love him, and he loves the troops," Petry said.
Retired Navy SEAL Master Chief Edward Byers, honored for a 2012 nighttime hostage rescue in Afghanistan, also endorsed Andersen, saying soldiers "deserve strong, steady leadership" from someone who listens to those on the ground.
The Parnell Camp
Not every veteran approached on Andersen's behalf agreed. Earl Plumlee, who was referred to the Post as an Andersen supporter, said he actually prefers Parnell, pointing to his experience working with industry. Plumlee argued that the defining competition of this era is in artificial intelligence and data centers, and that the Army Corps of Engineers will be central to getting power to those systems.
Plumlee called Andersen a solid second choice and said the feud between Driscoll and Hegseth had been a painful waste of talent.
Dakota Meyer, honored for rescuing wounded Afghan troops and recovering fallen Americans under fire, said he has known Parnell for more than a decade and fully endorses him, calling him a combat leader who now also understands how decisions get made at the top of the Pentagon.
Parnell has also won public support from Republican Sens. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania and Tim Sheehy of Montana.
Obstacles on Both Sides
Parnell's path is complicated by abuse allegations made by his ex-wife. Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said that part of his record is "a bridge too far" for most senators. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, and confirmation requires only a simple majority. Parnell has also had a strained relationship with Ricky Buria, Hegseth's influential chief of staff.
Andersen faces his own detractors inside the administration. One official said he is viewed internally as a Driscoll loyalist, mocked a social media post in which he called himself the "Colonoscopy King" while promoting preventive screenings, and alleged unspecified ties to Trump critics including former Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Barbara Comstock. That official dismissed him as a "non-factor."
A White House official said Trump will announce his nominee "at a time and place of his choosing."
Based on reporting by the New York Post. Photo: Aerial view of the Pentagon, May 2023 (U.S. Department of Defense, public domain).
