Michele A. Pearce | |
|---|---|
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| General Counsel of the Army | |
Acting | |
| In office March 25, 2020 – January 19, 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | James E. McPherson |
| Succeeded by | Craig R. Schmauder (senior official) |
| Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Department of the Army | |
| In office January 6, 2020 – January 19, 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Robert J. Sander |
| Succeeded by | Craig R. Schmauder (senior official) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michele Angelica Lozen 1969 Marine City, Michigan |
| Spouse(s) | Lt Col (Ret) Stephen Wells Pearce, USAF |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Mount Holyoke College, A.B. University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D. |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1996-2009 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Michele A. Pearce (born 1969) is an American lawyer and former government official. She served as the Principal Deputy General Counsel (PDGC) of the Army from January 6, 2020 to January 19, 2021. As PDGC, Pearce was the first assistant to the General Counsel and the number two attorney in the Department of the Army. Her duties included providing legal and policy advice to the Secretary of the Army, the Secretariat, and other Army senior leaders.
On April 9, 2020, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Pearce to serve as the General Counsel of the Army.[1][2] On May 4, 2020, her nomination was sent to the Senate.[3][4][5] On August 4, 2020, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Armed Services Committee.[6] During her confirmation hearing, Pearce testified regarding her commitment to implementing Project Inclusion focused on increasing diversity in the Army; the need for ethical implementation of artificial intelligence, employment of machine learning capabilities, and other emerging technologies; and the importance of safe and secure housing for military servicemembers and their families.[7][8][9] The Senate Armed Services Committee voted by voice on September 15, 2020, to move Pearce's nomination forward.[10] On January 3, 2021, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.
- ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint the Following Individuals to Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. April 9, 2020 – via National Archives.
- ^ Suits, Devon (September 16, 2020). "Army nominates first Hispanic-American woman to be service's top lawyer". Army News Service. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "PN1723 - Michele A. Pearce - Department of Defense". January 3, 2021.
- ^ Bender, Bryan (May 5, 2020). "White House moves to fill Pentagon jobs". Politico.
- ^ Nelson, Matthew (May 6, 2020). "Michele Pearce Nominated as Army General Counsel". ExecutiveGov.
- ^ "Nominations - Whitley - Manasco - Pearce - Hardy". United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. August 4, 2020.
- ^ "ICYMI: Chairman Inhofe Questions Witnesses at SASC Nomination Hearing". James M. Inhofe, U.S. Senator for Oklahoma. August 4, 2020.
- ^ Pearce, Michele (August 4, 2020). "Opening Statement Before the Senate Armed Services Committee" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on Armed Services.
- ^ "General Counsel Nominee Recalls Military Childhood". Association of the United States Army. August 6, 2020.
- ^ "Armed Services Committee Advances Key Civilian, Military Nominations". United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.