Mark Esper facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Mark Esper
Esper in 2019

27th United States Secretary of Defense
In office July 23, 2019 – November 9, 2020
President	Donald Trump
Deputy	Richard V. Spencer (acting) David Norquist (acting)
Preceded by	Jim Mattis
Succeeded by	Lloyd Austin
Acting June 24, 2019 – July 15, 2019
President	Donald Trump
Deputy	David Norquist (acting)
Preceded by	Patrick M. Shanahan (acting)
Succeeded by	Richard V. Spencer (acting)
23rd United States Secretary of the Army
In office November 20, 2017 – July 23, 2019*
President	Donald Trump
Deputy	Ryan McCarthy
Preceded by	Ryan McCarthy (acting)
Succeeded by	Ryan McCarthy

Personal details
Born	(1964-04-26) April 26, 1964 (age 61) Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Leah Lacy (m. 1989)
Children	3
Relatives	George Esper (uncle)
Education	United States Military Academy (BS) Harvard University (MPA) George Washington University (PhD)
Occupation	Business executive, venture capitalist, politician
Civilian awards	Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service (two awards)
Signature
Website	https://www.marktesper.com/
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1986–2007
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Unit	101st Airborne Division 82nd Airborne Division Virginia Army National Guard D.C. Army National Guard United States Army Reserve
Commands	B/3-325 Airborne Battalion Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy
Battles/wars	Persian Gulf War
Military awards	Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal Combat Infantryman Badge Kuwait Liberation Medal
*McCarthy served in an acting capacity from June 24, 2019 to July 15, 2019, while Esper served as Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense.

Mark Thomas Esper (born April 26, 1964) is an American politician and business leader. He served as the 27th United States Secretary of Defense from 2019 to 2020. Before that, he was the 23rd United States Secretary of the Army from 2017 to 2019.

Esper graduated from West Point and joined the United States Army. He fought in the Gulf War as an infantry officer. After leaving the military, he worked in different government and business roles, including for a defense company called Raytheon.

In 2017, he joined the Donald Trump administration as the Secretary of the Army. In 2019, he became the acting Secretary of Defense and was later confirmed by the United States Senate. President Trump removed him from office in November 2020.

Early Life and School

Mark Esper was born on April 26, 1964, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. His father's family came from Lebanon. His uncle, George Esper, was a famous war journalist.

Mark went to Laurel Highlands High School and graduated in 1982. He then attended the United States Military Academy and earned a degree in engineering in 1986. He was a top student and received an award for leadership. Later, he earned two more degrees: a master's from Harvard Kennedy School in 1995 and a doctorate from George Washington University in 2008.

Mark Esper's Career

Esper served as an infantry officer in the United States Army for over ten years. He was part of the 101st Airborne Division during the Gulf War. He later served in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. He completed many tough military courses, like Ranger and Airborne training. He also received several military awards, including the Bronze Star Medal.

After his military service, Esper worked in various important roles:

He was chief of staff at the Heritage Foundation, a research group, from 1996 to 1998.
He worked for different committees in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002.
From 2002 to 2004, he worked for President George W. Bush as a deputy assistant secretary of defense.
He was a senior executive at the Aerospace Industries Association and the United States Chamber of Commerce.
Before joining the Trump administration, he was a vice president at the defense company Raytheon.

Secretary of the Army

President Donald Trump chose Mark Esper to be the United States Secretary of the Army in June 2017. The United States Senate approved his nomination, and he started his role in November 2017.

As Army Secretary, Esper had three main goals:

Making the Army ready for any challenge.
Updating the Army's equipment and systems.
Making the Army more efficient.

He also focused on taking care of soldiers and their families.

The Army's Future Plans

In 2018, Esper shared a new plan for the Army, called the "Army Vision." It focused on preparing for major conflicts, especially against countries like China. The plan aimed to:

Increase the number of active-duty soldiers.
Improve how the Army manages its people.
Modernize the Army's equipment by creating a "Futures Command."
Find ways to save money to pay for these improvements.

Improving Army Recruiting

Esper helped bring back the Army's classic "pinks and greens" uniform to boost morale and pride.

To attract more people, Esper and his team changed how the Army recruited. They focused on finding quality recruits and improving marketing. They also brought back the old "pinks and greens" uniform from World War II to boost morale. The Army also started focusing on recruiting in major U.S. cities where they hadn't recruited much before. These changes started showing good results by mid-2019.

Boosting Army Readiness

Mark Esper talks with soldiers during their training at the National Training Center.

When Esper became Secretary, the Army's readiness was low. To fix this, he made several changes:

He removed many unnecessary training and reporting tasks. This allowed officers to focus on training their soldiers better.
Army training exercises focused on high-intensity combat against strong opponents.
The number of soldiers who couldn't be deployed was greatly reduced.

Changing Soldier Training

Esper visits Fort Benning, Georgia, in November 2018. He watched new soldiers train in the longer Infantry OSUT course.

In 2018, Esper started a plan to improve basic training for combat soldiers. He extended infantry training by over 50 percent, making it one of the longest in the world. This extra time allowed for more training in weapons, vehicles, and combat skills. It also added courses like combat lifesaver training. This longer training led to fewer injuries and better-trained soldiers.

Restructuring the Army

To prepare the Army for future conflicts, Esper made big changes to its structure:

The Army changed some infantry units into tank-focused units, making its heavy forces stronger.
New programs were started to rebuild long-range artillery and air-defense systems. These were important for modern warfare.
A new Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) was created to combine different combat functions like air defense, cyber, and electronic warfare. The first MDTF was sent to the Indo-Pacific region.
In 2020, the Army reactivated the V Corps, a major command, with a headquarters in Poland. This was to improve command in Europe and help NATO allies prepare against Russia.

Finding Money for Modernization

Esper tests an experimental counter-drone weapon in Afghanistan in December 2017.

Esper started an unusual process called "Night Court" in 2018. He asked Army leaders to rank all their programs and justify their funding. He and other leaders reviewed every program. This effort found over $31 billion in savings. This money was then used to fund the Army's new modernization plans, expanded training, and recruiting efforts. Esper later used a similar process when he became Secretary of Defense.

Modernizing the Army and Futures Command

Esper visits Austin, Texas, for the opening of Army Futures Command (AFC).

In 2018, Esper created the United States Army Futures Command (AFC) in Austin, Texas. This was the biggest change to the Army's structure in over 40 years. AFC's goal was to bring all modernization efforts under one command. This helped the Army develop new weapons and technologies faster and more efficiently.

The AFC focused on six main areas:

Long-range precision weapons.
Next-generation combat vehicles.
Future vertical lift (helicopters and aircraft).
Army network (communications).
Air and missile defense.
Soldier lethality (improving soldier's combat abilities).

Soldier Health and Fitness

Secretary Mark Esper doing the Army Combat Fitness Test in March 2019.

In 2018, Esper introduced a new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). This test replaced the old one from 1980. The ACFT was designed to better prepare soldiers for real combat tasks. It included six events that tested different physical skills.

A year later, Esper approved plans to add sports trainers, physical therapists, and nutritionists to Army units. This "Holistic Health and Fitness" (H2F) program aimed to reduce injuries and improve soldiers' overall health. These changes helped reduce the number of soldiers who couldn't be deployed.

Managing Soldier Talent

Army Secretary Mark Esper talks about his Talent Management plan in January 2019.

In 2019, Esper focused on improving how the Army manages its people. The goal was to give soldiers more say in their careers and assignments. This new "talent management" approach allowed soldiers to stay at one base longer if they wanted and apply for jobs across the Army. Commanders could also search for and interview applicants, helping them find the best people for their units.

The Army also started a new way to choose battalion commanders, similar to how sports teams draft players. This involved several days of physical and mental tests. Other ideas included allowing soldiers to take unpaid breaks and making it easier to move between the regular Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve.

Supporting Military Families

Secretary Esper speaks at the Army Family Readiness Forum.

Esper made caring for soldiers and their families a top priority. He focused on helping military spouses find jobs and improving childcare. He pushed for states to recognize professional licenses from other states, making it easier for spouses to work when families moved. He also worked to reduce how often military families had to move and to expand childcare options on bases.

Another important issue was the Exceptional Family Member Program, which helps families with special needs children. Esper worked to improve access to care, especially for families overseas. He also focused on ensuring good quality housing on military bases. He inspected homes and worked with contractors to fix problems.

Secretary of Defense

Esper, with his wife Leah, is sworn in as Secretary of Defense by Justice Samuel Alito on July 23, 2019.

President Trump appointed Esper as Acting Secretary of Defense in June 2019. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 23, 2019, with a strong vote of 90–8. This made him the first West Point graduate and former Secretary of the Army to become Secretary of Defense.

National Defense Strategy

Secretary Esper meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo in August 2019.

Esper's main focus as Secretary of Defense was to carry out the National Defense Strategy (NDS). This strategy stated that the military's job is to prevent wars and protect the nation. It also said that the U.S. was in a new era of competition with countries like China and Russia.

The NDS had key goals, including:

Updating plans for China and Russia.
Improving military readiness and deployment.
Strengthening alliances with other countries.
Modernizing the military with new technologies.
Focusing on China as a main challenge.

Reforming the Pentagon

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks to the press at the Pentagon in August 2019.

Esper quickly started making changes to improve how the Pentagon worked. He aimed to "improve our business practices, become more efficient, and free up funding" for other important areas. His efforts saved billions of dollars in his first six months. He also worked to ensure civilian leaders had proper control over military commands.

Civilian Control of the Military

Secretary Esper meets with his civilian and military leaders at the Pentagon in October 2019 to discuss military housing problems.

Esper believed it was important for civilian leaders to have strong control over the military. He worked to make sure civilian officials were involved in planning meetings and war reviews. He also focused on making military commands more accountable and financially disciplined.

Modernizing the Armed Forces

Secretary Esper visits a nuclear attack submarine in Norfolk, Virginia, in September 2019.

During Esper's time, the Pentagon focused on eleven key technologies to keep the U.S. military strong. These included:

Artificial intelligence (AI).
Hypersonics (very fast weapons).
Quantum science.
Biotechnology.
5G technology.

Billions of dollars were invested in these areas. Esper believed AI was the most important technology for the future of warfare. He also helped establish the United States Space Force as a new branch of the military in December 2019.

NATO and Europe

Esper with the Turkish defense minister at NATO headquarters in Brussels, June 2019.

Esper strongly supported NATO, an alliance of countries. He believed that NATO members needed to spend enough on defense to be strong against threats like Russia. He worked to strengthen the alliance and improve its readiness. He also helped establish a new U.S. Army headquarters in Poland to improve military coordination in Europe.

Afghanistan Peace Agreement

Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks in Kabul, Afghanistan, in February 2020.

In 2020, the U.S. signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan. This agreement planned for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan if the Taliban met certain conditions. Esper supported the peace process but insisted that the withdrawal should depend on the Taliban following the agreement. He believed the U.S. should only leave if conditions were met, such as a reduction in violence.

U.S. Troops in Germany

Esper (far right) with President Donald Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda in June 2020.

In 2020, President Trump decided to move some U.S. troops out of Germany. Trump believed Germany was not paying enough for its defense. Esper worked to implement this decision in a way that would not harm national security. The plan involved moving some troops to other allied countries closer to Russia, like Poland and Romania, to strengthen NATO's defense.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Esper visits FEMA headquarters during the COVID-19 pandemic, April 15, 2020.

The Department of Defense played a big role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2020, Esper's team started tracking cases and put a global response plan in place. The military helped by:

Evacuating Americans from other countries.
Providing medical guidance to military personnel.
Deploying hospital ships like the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy to help civilian hospitals.
Setting up temporary hospitals in cities like New York.
Providing masks, ventilators, and testing labs.
Implementing rules for face coverings and travel freezes to protect service members.

Esper emphasized that protecting service members and their families was his top priority. By November 2020, only one active-duty service member had died from COVID-19, showing the success of the military's actions.

Operation Warp Speed

In May 2020, President Trump announced "Operation Warp Speed." This program aimed to quickly develop and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine. Esper and the Secretary of Health and Human Services led this effort. Despite doubts, two effective vaccines were developed by November 2020. This program saved many lives and jobs.

George Floyd Protests

President Trump walking with an entourage to St. John's Episcopal Church. Esper is pictured directly behind Trump.

In May 2020, protests broke out across the U.S. after the death of George Floyd. Esper advised against using active-duty military troops to control the protests in American cities. He believed the National Guard was better suited for such situations.

Esper walked with President Trump to a photo opportunity near the White House. This event caused some controversy. Esper later said he tried to keep the military out of politics. He publicly stated his opposition to using active-duty forces for law enforcement in cities, unless it was a last resort.

Diversity and Inclusion

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper meets with Defense Department leaders in July 2020 to discuss diversity and inclusion.

Amid national discussions about race, Esper worked to improve diversity and inclusion in the military. He created boards to recommend ways to increase racial diversity and ensure equal opportunity for all service members.

Confederate Symbols

Secretary of Defense Esper issued a new policy in July 2020 that banned the flying of all flags other than the U.S. flag and those of U.S. states, allied countries, and military units. This policy effectively banned the display of the Confederate flag.

Esper supported changing the names of military bases named after Confederate generals. President Trump disagreed with this idea. Esper also issued a policy that banned the flying of all flags other than official ones, which effectively banned the Confederate flag on military bases. He said his goal was to remove politics from the military.

Dismissal by Trump

On November 9, 2020, after the presidential election, President Trump announced on Twitter that he had "terminated" Esper. Esper had already written a resignation letter a few days earlier.

In January 2021, Esper and other former Secretaries of Defense wrote an article stating that the military should not be involved in changing election results. Esper later said that the events of January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol, threatened American democracy.

Other Activities

Today, Mark Esper is the Distinguished Chair of the Modern War Institute at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is also involved with several think tanks and advisory groups, focusing on national security and defense. He often appears on news shows to share his views.

Awards and Recognition

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson presents the Minuteman Award to former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

Esper has received several awards for his public service and contributions:

The George Washington University's Distinguished Alumni Award (2018).
The George C. Marshall Foundation's Andrew J. Goodpaster Award (2021).
The Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute's "Peace Through Strength" Award (2022).
The Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania (2023).
The Military Hero Award by the PenFed Foundation (2023).
Taiwan's "Order of Resplendent Banner with Grand Cordon" (2023) for his support of Taiwan's security.

Personal Life

Mark Esper married Leah Lacy in 1989. They have three children.

Images for kids

Esper in 2008
Esper hosts Saudi prince Khalid bin Salman at the Pentagon, August 29, 2019
Esper inspects troops alongside Vietnamese defense minister Ngô Xuân Lịch in Hanoi, November 20, 2019
Newly-confirmed Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks before the assembled VIPs, troops and spectators at the Pentagon for his Full Honors Welcome Ceremony on July 25, 2019.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks to members of the press during his first joint press conference at the Pentagon on August 28, 2019.
Secretary Esper speaks to the press at NATO headquarters in February 2020.
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper speaks to sailors on the USS Carl Vinson, September 17, 2020.
Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper visits with U.S. and Allied soldiers conducting field training in Hohenfels, Germany Sept. 22, 2018.
Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper meets with Romanian Minister of Defense Nicolae Ciuca at the Pentagon on October 8, 2020.
Secretary Esper presents the flag of the U.S. Space Force at the White House on May 15, 2020.
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper held a news conference on June 3, 2020.
Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper meets with Defense Department leaders at the Pentagon on July 15, 2020.
Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper speaks alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar participate in a press event after the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial, New Delhi, India, Oct. 27, 2020.
Secretary Esper visits the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, at Fort Gordon, Georgia, in June 2018.
Army Secretary Mark Esper meeting with enlisted Soldiers to discuss issues of concern to them and their families.
Secretary Esper visited with an M777 howitzer gun crew in Afghanistan in December 2017.