Richard V. Spencer

Richard V. Spencer
Official portrait, 2019
76th United States Secretary of the Navy
In office
August 3, 2017 – November 24, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyThomas Modly
Preceded bySean Stackley
Succeeded byKenneth Braithwaite
Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
In office
July 24 – July 31, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byDavid Norquist (acting)
Succeeded byDavid Norquist
Acting United States Secretary of Defense
In office
July 15 – July 23, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyDavid Norquist (acting)
Preceded byMark Esper (acting)
Succeeded byMark Esper
Personal details
Born
Richard Vaughn Spencer

(1954-01-18) January 18, 1954 (age 70)
Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyRepublican[1]
EducationRollins College (BA)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1976–1981
RankCaptain
*Thomas Modly served in an acting capacity from July 15 to July 31, 2019, while Spencer served as Acting Secretary and then Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Richard Vaughn Spencer (born January 18, 1954) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 76th United States Secretary of the Navy from August 3, 2017, to November 24, 2019. While serving as Secretary of the Navy, he also briefly served as Acting United States Secretary of Defense (July 15 to July 23, 2019) and Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Defense (July 24 to July 31, 2019).[2] Spencer served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976 to 1981 as a Marine Aviator. He was Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Intercontinental Exchange (IEX) from November 2001 to January 2008.

On November 24, 2019, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper requested Spencer's resignation due to his handling of the Eddie Gallagher case, specifically that Spencer did not observe the chain of command.[3]

  1. ^ Blake, Andrew (February 7, 2020). "Richard Spencer, Trump's former Navy secretary, endorses Michael Bloomberg in 2020 race". The Washington Times. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  2. ^ "Letter from Acting Secretary of Defense Richard V. Spencer to Pentagon". news.usni.org. July 15, 2019. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  3. ^ "Statement by DOD Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved November 24, 2019.