Richard V. Spencer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard V. Spencer
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Official portrait, 2019
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| 76th United States Secretary of the Navy | |
| In office August 3, 2017 – November 24, 2019 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Thomas Modly |
| Preceded by | Ray Mabus |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth Braithwaite |
| Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Defense | |
| In office July 24 – July 31, 2019 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | David Norquist (acting) |
| Succeeded by | David Norquist |
| Acting United States Secretary of Defense | |
| In office July 15 – July 23, 2019 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | David Norquist (acting) |
| Preceded by | Mark Esper (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Mark Esper |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Richard Vaughn Spencer
January 18, 1954 Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Rollins College (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1976–1981 |
| Rank | Captain |
| *Thomas Modly served in an acting capacity from July 15 to July 31, 2019, while Spencer served as Acting Secretary and then Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense. | |
Richard Vaughn Spencer (born January 18, 1954) is an American politician and businessman. He served as the 76th United States Secretary of the Navy from August 2017 to November 2019. This role means he was in charge of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
While serving as Secretary of the Navy, he also briefly held two other important jobs. He was the Acting United States Secretary of Defense for a short time in July 2019. Then, he was the Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Defense later that same month.
Before his government roles, Spencer was a Marine Aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976 to 1981. He also worked in the business world, including as a leader at a company called Intercontinental Exchange (IEX). In November 2019, he was asked to resign from his role as Secretary of the Navy.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Richard Spencer was born in 1954 in Waterbury, Connecticut. He went to Rollins College and studied economics. After college, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
He served as a Marine Aviator, which means he was a pilot for the Marines. He flew helicopters from 1976 to 1981. During his time in the Marines, he was part of a helicopter squadron.
Career Before Government
After leaving the Marines as a captain, Spencer worked in financial services for 15 years. He held positions at several well-known companies like Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.
From 2009 to 2015, Spencer was a member of the Defense Business Board. This is a group that advises the Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense.
In June 2017, President Donald Trump chose Richard Spencer to be the 76th United States Secretary of the Navy. The United States Senate approved his nomination in August 2017. He officially started his job on August 3, 2017, and served until November 24, 2019.
In July 2019, Spencer temporarily took on the duties of Acting Secretary of Defense. This meant he was in charge of the entire U.S. military for a short period. Later that month, he also served as the Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Defense.
In November 2019, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper asked Spencer to resign. This happened because of how Spencer handled a specific case involving a Navy SEAL. Secretary Esper stated that Spencer had not followed the proper chain of command. This means Spencer had discussed the case directly with White House officials without informing his boss, Secretary Esper.
Spencer explained his resignation in a letter to President Trump. He said he believed strongly in "good order and discipline" within the military. He felt that he no longer shared the same understanding with the President on this important principle. He also wrote an article for The Washington Post where he shared his thoughts on the situation.
Later Career
After leaving his government role, Spencer continued to be involved in military-related organizations. He is a member of the Marine Corps Association and Foundation and the Marine Corps Aviation Association.
See also
In Spanish: Richard V. Spencer para niños
