The key criteria for those in the top-tier positions appear to be loyalty, wealth, and ideological fervor, not competence.

(Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool) He previously served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Defense Continuity and Mission Assurance and as the deputy assistant secretary ...

Robert Salesses, deputy director of the Pentagon’s Washington Headquarters Service, will fill in as acting secretary of defense, and three other career Defense Department civilians will be ...

Salesses has also served in roles including assistant secretary of Defense for homeland defense and global security and deputy assistant secretary of Defense for defense continuity and mission ...

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Shawn G. Skelly stressed equitable military hiring practices as crucial to national security at a Jan. 13 event. Rebecca D. Patterson, the ...

President Donald Trump has named an acting defense secretary because his choice to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.Related video above: Senators recently ...