We have just learned that President-elect Donald J. Trump has nominated Vincent “Vinnie” Viola as Secretary of the Army.
Viola is the founder and executive chairman of Virtu Financial, a former Army infantry officer, who also owns the NHL’s Florida Panthers.
Vincent Viola nominated as Secretary of the Army.
» https://t.co/7vjSvwDlo3 pic.twitter.com/BUXByZOgzL— Florida Panthers PR (@FlaPanthersPR) December 19, 2016
In a statement Trump lauded Viola’s career of service:
I am proud to have such an incredibly accomplished and selfless individual as Vincent Viola as our Secretary of the Army. Whether it is his distinguished military service or highly impressive track record in the world of business, Vinnie has proved throughout his life that he knows how to be a leader and deliver major results in the face of any challenge. He is a man of outstanding work ethic, integrity, and strategic vision, with an exceptional ability to motivate others. The American people, whether civilian or military, should have great confidence that Vinnie Viola has what it takes to keep America safe and oversee issues of concern to our troops in the Army.
In a statement that followed, Viola said he was honored to be nominated as Secretary of the Army:
If confirmed, I will work tirelessly to provide our president with the land force he will need to accomplish any mission in support of his National Defense Strategy. A primary focus of my leadership will be ensuring that America’s soldiers have the ways and means to fight and win across the full spectrum of conflict. This great honor comes with great responsibility, and I will fight for the American people and their right to live free every day.
From Washington Examiner:
Viola graduated from West Point in 1977 and served in the 101st Airborne Division. After 9/11, he founded the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, has founded several companies and chaired the New York Mercantile Stock Exchange. He earned his law degree from New York Law School in 1983.
From the statement: “Viola’s leadership of NYMEX on and after 9/11 resulted in the board of Exchange recognizing his actions with a citation that included this statement: ‘His heroic leadership served as a beacon to thousands of Exchange members and staff, providing us with the fortitude to resume operations and preserve the efficiency of the American economy and global energy and metals markets in the face of this great tragedy.’ In 2008, Viola founded Virtu Financial, a global leader in electronic market making, and took the company public in 2015.”
President-elect Trump has made it a point to pick military members to help serve in his administration, including as National Security Adviser, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security.
Do you think Vincent Viola is a solid pick to lead America’s Army? Share your thoughts below!