Michele Flournoy, the CEO of Center for a New American Security (CNAS), has officially pulled herself out of the running to be the second in command at the Pentagon, despite being a top contender for the job.
Michele Flournoy Doesn’t Want To Be In Running For 2nd In Command At Pentagon https://t.co/2omLgeOCwe pic.twitter.com/Yd1qWYOUXK
— DailyCaller Politics (@TheDCPolitics) December 20, 2016
CNAS’s chairman of its Board of Directors released a statement reaffirming that Flournoy will not take a position in the Trump administration:
Given recent media speculations, we wanted to clarify that Michele Flournoy will remain CEO of [Center for a New American Security], a position in which she has exceeded our highest expectations. She has the utmost respect for General James Mattis. While she had several conversations with General Mattis about how she could support his success as the nominee for secretary of defense, she has no plans to return to government service at this time.
From The Daily Caller:
Last Friday, Politico reported that Flournoy met with retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, likely about sliding into the position of deputy secretary of defense. Flournoy previously served as under secretary of defense for policy in the Obama administration from 2009 to 2012.
Flournoy has now had multiple possible shots at the highest DOD roles. After then-Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel resigned in late 2014, Flournoy was in the running for secretary of defense in the Obama administration, but said she “removed [herself] from consideration due to family concerns.”
However, before she was in the running for secretary of defense in the Obama administration, Flournoy testified before Congress that the Obama administration has a tendency to micromanage the Pentagon, echoing the complaints of many top-level military officials and former Pentagon heads.
“Too often that happens because of two reasons: one, a lack of role clarity, who has what job; and two, a risk aversion,” she told the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Given that Flournoy has had a distinguished career in public service, she would have likely been an easy confirmation, but now Trump must find a new person to serve as second of command in the Pentagon.
Who should President-elect Trump to work with General Mattis as the second in command in the Pentagon? Share your thoughts below!