Pete Geren

Infobox Congressman
name = Preston "Pete" Geren


date of birth = Birth date and age|1952|1|29|mf=y
place of birth = Fort Worth, Texas
party = Democratic
state = Texas
district = 12th
term = 1989–1997
preceded = Jim Wright
succeeded = Kay Granger
spouse =

Preston M. Geren, III (born January 29, 1952 in Fort Worth, Texas) has served as the 20th and current United States Secretary of the Army since 16 July 2007. He is also a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas.

Education

Geren attended Georgia Tech from 1970 to 1973 (where he was the starting center for the football team) and received his BA from the University of Texas in 1974 and his Juris Doctor from University of Texas Law School in 1978.

Congressional career

Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Geren was an attorney and businessman in Fort Worth, Texas.

From 1989 until 1997, Geren was a Democratic member of the U.S. Congress, representing Texas's 12th congressional district for four terms. He was first elected in a special election to succeed former Speaker of the House Jim Wright for the 12th congressional district in Texas, narrowly defeating Republican candidate Bob Lanier (not to be confused with the Houston mayor of the same name). Geren was re-elected for three more terms, but opted not to run in 1996. He was succeeded by Kay Granger.

Department of Defense

Geren joined the Department of Defense in September 2001 to serve as Special Assistant to the Defense Secretary with responsibilities in the areas of inter-agency initiatives, legislative affairs and special projects.

On July 29 2005, Bush appointed Geren the acting United States Secretary of the Air Force, a position he served in until the confirmation of his successor Michael Wynne in November 2005.Geren was the 28th Under Secretary of the Army, a post he assumed on February 21 2006, following his nomination by President George W. Bush and confirmation by the United States Senate. As the Undersecretary, Geren was the Army's No. 2 civilian leader. He served as the deputy and senior adviser to the Secretary of the Army and was Acting Secretary in the absence of the Secretary.

In March 2007, Geren was named Acting Secretary of the United States Army by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, after Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey resigned amidst the scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. On July 16 2007, Geren was confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of the Army. [ [http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/07/16/4042-senate-names-pete-geren-20th-secretary-of-the-army/ Senate Names Pete Geren 20th Secretary of the Army ] ]

Quotes

*"We as an Army failed in our duty to the Tillman family, the duty we owe to all the families of our fallen soldiers: Give them the truth, the best we know it, as fast as we can." [http://origin.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_5527484]

References

* [http://www.army.mil/leaders/leaders/sa/index.html Secretary of the Army official site]