Dr. Mark T. Esper

Dr. Mark T. Esper served as Secretary of Defense from 2019-2020, and as Secretary of the Army from 2017-2019. A distinguished graduate of West Point, he spent twenty-one years in uniform, including a combat tour in the Gulf War.  Esper earned a Ph.D. from George Washington University while working on Capitol Hill, at the Pentagon as a political appointee, and as a commissioner on the U.S.- China Economic and Security Review Commission.  He was also a senior executive at a prestigious think tank, business associations, and Fortune 100 technology company.  Dr. Esper is the recipient of multiple civilian and military awards, currently sits on several public policy and business boards, and is a partner in the Red Cell Partners venture capital firm.