Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) and former Defense Intelligence Agency Mike Flynn are among the top candidates for president-elect Donald Trump’s appointee as defense secretary, Military Times reported Wednesday.
Leo Shane, Aaron Mehta and Joe Gould write that Trump, who will select personnel to serve under national security posts next year, received advice from both Sessions and Flynn during the new president-elect’s campaign.
The report noted that Trump has previously hinted at a defense job for Flynn despite the latter’s ineligibility to serve as head of the Pentagon due to his prior military service and a waiver from Congress could permit the former DIA chief to take over the defense secretary role.
Other potential candidates include Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser of George W. Bush, and Sen. James Talent (R-Missouri).
Military Times lists Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Alabama), Duncan Hunter (R-California) and Randy Forbes (R-Virginia) may be appointed for lower-level defense roles.
