American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2014 – By voice vote late today, the
Senate confirmed Robert O. Work, a retired Marine Corps colonel, to be the next
deputy secretary of defense.
Christine H. Fox has been acting deputy secretary since former
Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter stepped down in December.
In a statement issued shortly after the Senate vote, Defense
Secretary Chuck Hagel said he welcomes Work’s confirmation.
“Bob is an admired and tested leader, with a distinguished
career of public service, including during his time as an officer in the Marine
Corps and as undersecretary of the Navy,” Hagel said. “He brings to this
position a depth of experience, knowledge, and expertise that will greatly
benefit the Department of Defense. I look forward to working closely with Bob
to strengthen our defense enterprise and help safeguard America's security.”
Hagel added that the Defense Department owes a deep debt of
gratitude for stepping in to serve during the transition. “I am grateful to
Christine for her wise counsel, steady leadership, and her constant dedication
to our men and women in uniform,” he said. “She will be greatly missed.”
Work stepped down as undersecretary of the Navy in March
2013. Since then, he has headed the Center for a New American Security in
Washington.
A distinguished graduate of the Naval ROTC program at the
University of Illinois, Work was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the
Marine Corps in August 1974. During his 27-year career, he held a wide range of
command, leadership and management positions. He commanded an artillery battery
and artillery battalion, and was the base commander at Camp Fuji, Japan.
His last assignment in uniform was as military assistant and
senior aide to Navy Secretary Richard J. Danzig.
After retiring from the Marine Corps in 2001, Work joined
the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, first as the senior fellow
for maritime affairs, and later as the vice president for strategic studies. In
these positions, he focused on defense strategy and programs, revolutions in
war, Defense Department transformation and maritime affairs.
Work also was an adjunct professor at George Washington
University, where he taught defense analysis and roles and missions of the
armed forces.
In late 2008, he served on President Barack Obama’s DOD
Defense Transition Team. In this role, he led the Navy Department issue team,
and he served on the defense policy, acquisition and budget teams.
Work earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from the
University of Illinois and master of science degrees in systems management from
the University of Southern California, in space system operations from the
Naval Postgraduate School, and in international public policy from the Johns
Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies..
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