This appointment is a huge step towards ending the tone of intolerance towards skilled and essential personnel.
Eric Fanning, Civilian Adviser, Named Secretary of the Army
By HELENE COOPER
SEPT. 18, 2015WASHINGTON — President Obama is nominating Eric K. Fanning, a close civilian adviser to Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, to be the secretary of the Army, an appointment that would make him the first openly gay secretary of a military branch.
Mr. Fanning has been the acting under secretary of the Army as the current secretary, John McHugh, prepares to leave his post. Mr. Fanning’s Defense Department jobs have spanned the services: He has served as Air Force under secretary, deputy under secretary of the Navy and deputy chief management officer of the Navy.
“I can’t think of any civilian with more experience with the services, having served in senior positions in all three,” said Derek Chollet, a former assistant defense secretary. “He understands all of their unique cultures and processes.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Fanning will help guide the country’s largest military service as it undertakes a sweeping integration of gay soldiers. While the Pentagon lifted a prohibition on openly gay service members in 2011, it continues to struggle with a culture in which such members say they feel uncomfortable.
As a civilian, Mr. Fanning never had to conform to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy governing gay service members, which was in place for more than 15 years. But his appointment demonstrates that Mr. Obama and Mr. Carter want to keep pushing the military toward more openness toward gay men and lesbians, an administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to speak freely.
The official noted that the administration has been working to eliminate barriers to military service based on sexuality or gender. Defense Department officials say they believe the changes since the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” have largely been a success. They say that none of the dire predictions of opponents, like a potential exodus of troops, have occurred, and that recruiting, retention and overall morale have not been affected.
But gay and straight service members say that ending the legal barriers has not erased all the cultural barriers. Some gay service members say they experience harassment and discrimination.
Mr. Fanning, 47, a graduate of Dartmouth, is well liked at the Pentagon, and his appointment was widely expected. As Army secretary, Mr. Fanning, who has served as chief of staff to Mr. Carter, would exert influence over the selection of generals and over Army policy, including the integration of women into combat roles, training of combat forces and purchase of weapons.
Gay rights groups hailed Mr. Fanning’s appointment.
“We are thrilled to see Eric Fanning nominated to lead the world’s greatest army,” said Ashley Broadway-Mack, the president of the American Military Partner Association, a support organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender military families. “History continues to be written and equality marches forward with the nomination of an openly gay man to serve in this significantly important role.”
The Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization, called Mr. Fanning “the perfect choice to lead the world’s best-trained, most dedicated and formidable army.”
