Syracuse University Watertown High School
Where was John M. McHugh educated in 1966?
John M . McHugh John Michael McHugh ( born September 29 , 1948 ) is an American politician from the U.S . state of New York who served as the 21st United States Secretary of the Army , and represented the states 23rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives . In June 2009 , President Barack Obama nominated McHugh to the position of United States Secretary of the Army . His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate and he took office on September 21 , 2009 . In July 2015 , McHugh announced his intent to resign by November 2015 . He retired on November 1 , 2015 after more than six years of service . On September 18 , 2015 , President Obama nominated Eric Fanning to be his replacement . Early life and career . McHugh was born in Watertown , New York . He graduated from Watertown High School in 1966 and attended Syracuse University ; in 1970 he graduated from Utica College with a B.A . in political science . He later went on to receive a Master of Public Administration degree from the Nelson A . Rockefeller Graduate School of Public Affairs at the State University of New York at Albany in 1977 . Though he was of draft age during the Vietnam War , McHugh did not serve in the military . He was an assistant to the Watertown city manager from 1971 to 1977 . He served as an aide to State Senator H . Douglas Barclay from 1977 to 1984 , when he was elected as Barclays successor . McHugh was a member of the New York State Senate from 1985 to 1992 , sitting in the 186th , 187th , 188th and 189th New York State Legislatures . McHugh is also a member on the Board of Directors at the Atlantic Council . Congressional career . He ran successfully for the U.S . House of Representatives in 1992 to replace Congressman David OBrien Martin in the 24th district , which was renumbered as the 23rd district following redistricting after the 2000 census . This part of Upstate New York has historically been very Republican at the congressional level , though it has recently become more competitive in presidential elections . The district ( and its predecessors ) had been in Republican hands continuously since 1871 , and some parts of the district had been represented by a Democrat since 1851 . McHugh was reelected eight times with no substantive opposition , running unopposed in 2002 . McHugh was a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Military Academy in West Point , New York for 14 years , including a term as chairman . McHugh was the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee , and was also a senior member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee . He was chairman of the Oversight Committees Post Service Subcommittee for six years , and worked to pass legislation to significantly reform the U.S . Postal Service for the first time since it was demoted from a Cabinet-rank department with passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act ( ) in 2006 . He was a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 2005 to 2009 . McHugh defeated his Democratic opponent , Dr . Robert J . Johnson , in 2004 and again in 2006 . During the campaign , Dr . Johnson found himself unable to fly due to his name appearing on the No Fly List . At the time , Johnson speculated that he was added to the list because of his anti-war views and opposition to McHugh . McHughs office denied any wrongdoing . A later CBS News investigation discovered that the name Robert Johnson appeared on the list due to its use as an alias by a man convicted of plotting bombings in Toronto . Several other men named Robert Johnson were affected by its inclusion . McHugh was the only one of New Yorks eight Republican House incumbents to win more than 60% of the vote in 2006 . The other seven were either defeated or were held below 60% by their Democratic challengers . McHugh defeated Democrat Mike Oot in 2008 , garnering 65.3% of the vote . Political views . McHugh is a moderate Republican , like most Republicans from New York . He has a lifetime rating of 83% from the American Conservative Union . He was one of only 8 House Republicans to vote yes the American Clean Energy Act ( also known as Cap and Trade ) on June 26 , 2009 ; the measure passed by only eight votes . Secretary of the Army . On June 2 , 2009 , McHugh was nominated to the position of Secretary of the Army , by President Barack Obama . He was confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote on September 16 , 2009 . He was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Army at a Pentagon ceremony on September 21 , 2009 . McHugh , a Republican appointed by a Democratic president , succeeded Pete Geren , a Democrat appointed by a Republican president . McHugh never served in the military , but in nominating him , President Obama indicated his view that McHughs extensive experience on the House Armed Services Committee had prepared him to serve as the Armys top civilian . In March 2010 McHugh said that he would not pursue discharges against soldiers who told him privately that they were gay . McHugh said he has talked to openly gay soldiers as part of assessing the forces opinion on the repeal of a controversial law that bans openly gay people from serving in the military . Under then current law , known as Dont ask , dont tell , service members who declare that they are gay would have to be discharged . In May 2010 , McHugh was granted an honorary degree from the State University of New York Board of Trustees , to be presented during the commencement ceremonies at SUNY Oswego . When the decision to award McHugh the honorary degree was made public , the SUNY Oswego Pride Alliance , an LGBT student group , organized a protest to be held on campus during the ceremony , with students specifically taking issue with his voting record on gay rights . Following weeks of debate on campus , which included a Student Association Senate resolution condemning the Dont Ask , Dont Tell policy , McHugh withdrew from the ceremony , stating , it is obvious that my presence at the ceremony might well have a disruptive effect . In March 2015 , McHugh revoked a rule allowing Women Airforce Service Pilots ( WASPs ) to have their ashes interred at Arlington National Cemetery , ruling these women lacked eligibility due to their classification during the war as civilians . This , in spite of the hazards of the duty ( 38 died while serving their country ) . After McHugh stepped down , Congress introduced legislation to reverse McHughs action . The legislation passed on May 12 , 2016 , and was signed into law by President Obama on May 20 , 2016 . In July 2015 , McHugh announced his intent to resign as secretary by November 1 , 2015 . He had expressed his desire to [ do so ] several weeks earlier . At the time of the announcement defense secretary Ashton Carter and senior New York senator Charles Schumer expressed praise and appreciation for McHughs service . In September 2015 , President Obama nominated Eric Fanning , who had been serving most recently as interim under secretary , to be McHughs permanent replacement as secretary . On October 23 , 2015 the Army conducted a farewell ceremony for McHugh , which was presided over by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter . During the ceremony McHugh was presented with the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service . McHugh completed his term on October 31 , 2015 . Later career . In June 2016 , the K&L Gates international law firm announced that McHugh and his longtime aide , Anne LeMay , had joined the firm to advise clients on procurement and other defense policy matters . Personal . McHugh is divorced from his wife , Katherine Sullivan , a daughter of Assemblywoman Frances T . Sullivan . He has a home in the hamlet of Pierrepont Manor . In 2006 McHugh was named one of the 50 most beautiful people on Capitol Hill by The Hill magazine .