Mark Esper

**Mark Thomas Esper** (born April 26, 1964) is an American lobbyist and former government administrator for the United States Department of Defense. Esper was the 27th United States Secretary of Defense from July 2019 until November 2019. He was the 23rd United States Secretary of the Army from November 2017 until July 2019. He served as Vice President of government relations at Raytheon.

Esper studied at United States Military Academy, Harvard University and at George Washington University.

On July 19, 2017, it was announced that President Donald Trump had the intention of nominating Esper to become U.S. Secretary of the Army. He is Trump's third nominee for the position, following the withdrawals of Vincent Viola and Mark E. Green. He was confirmed by the Senate on November 15, 2017. He resigned on June 24, 2019 to become acting Defense Secretary.

President Donald Trump announced on June 18, 2019, that Esper would become acting Secretary of Defense. Three days later, Trump nominated Esper to serve the job full-time. On July 23, 2019, his nomination was confirmed by a vote of 90–8.

On November 5, 2020, shortly after the 2020 presidential election, it was reported that Esper had prepared a letter of resignation from his position as Secretary of Defense. He was fired by President Trump four days later on November 9.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Mark Esper
- **image**: Dr. Mark T. Esper – Acting Secretary of Defense.jpg
- **office**: 27th United States Secretary of Defense
- **president**: Donald Trump
- **deputy**: Richard V. Spencer (acting)
David Norquist
- **term start**: July 23, 2019
- **term end**: November 9, 2020
- **predecessor**: James Mattis
- **successor**: Lloyd Austin
- **president1**: Donald Trump
- **deputy1**: David Norquist (acting)
- **term start1**: Acting: June 24, 2019
- **term end1**: July 15, 2019
- **predecessor1**: Patrick M. Shanahan (acting)
- **successor1**: Richard V. Spencer (acting)
- **office2**: 23rd United States Secretary of the Army
- **president2**: Donald Trump
- **deputy2**: Ryan McCarthy (U.S. Army), Ryan McCarthy
- **term start2**: November 20, 2017
- **term end2**: July 23, 2019
- **predecessor2**: Ryan McCarthy (acting)
- **successor2**: Ryan McCarthy
- **birth name**: Mark Thomas Esper
- **birth place**: Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- **party**: Republican Party (United States), Republican
- **spouse**: Leah Lacy (1989–present)
- **children**: 3
- **education**: United States Military Academy (Bachelor of Science, BS)
Harvard University (Master of Public Administration, MPA)
George Washington University (Doctor of Philosophy, PhD)
- **unit**:  101st Airborne Division
 Virginia Army National Guard
 D.C. Army National Guard

- **rank**:  Lieutenant colonel (United States), Lieutenant Colonel
- **serviceyears**: 1986–2007
- **battles**: Gulf War
- **mawards**: Legion of Merit
 Bronze Star Medal, Bronze Star
 Combat Infantryman Badge
 Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, DoD Medal for Distinguished Public Service
- **footnotes**: McCarthy served in an acting capacity from June 24, 2019 – July 15, 2019, while Esper served as acting secretary of defense.