President-elect Donald Trump is considering Trae Stephens, a partner at venture capital firm Founders Fund, and Stephen Feinberg, co-chief executive of investment firm Cerberus Capital Management, for the deputy secretary role at the Department of Defense, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
According to WSJ, the potential appointment of a defense tech startup investor as deputy DOD secretary would benefit new companies that have entered the military market but struggled to do business with the Pentagon.
The deputy secretary role is the second highest-ranking civilian position within DOD responsible for the defense budget and other daily operations.
Who Are the Candidates?
According to the report, Stephens co-founded Anduril Industries. He is a venture capitalist and a frequent public speaker who talks about the value of building for national security.
Stephen Feinberg previously led the intelligence advisory board during the first Trump administration. According to associates, the billionaire investor invested in hypersonics to help the U.S. regain an edge against competitors.
The publication noted that the incoming administration is considering other candidates for the deputy secretary position, including those from inside the Pentagon.