Eric Fanning | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2015 | |
| 22nd United States Secretary of the Army | |
| In office May 18, 2016 – January 20, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | John Michael McHugh |
| Succeeded by | Mark Esper |
| Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense | |
| In office Acting: November 3, 2015 – January 11, 2016 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | John M. McHugh |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Murphy (acting) |
| Acting United States Under Secretary of the Army | |
| In office June 30, 2015 – November 3, 2015 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Brad Carson |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Hawley (acting) |
| Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense | |
| In office February 17, 2015 – June 30, 2015 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Secretary | Ashton Carter |
| Preceded by | Mark Lippert |
| Succeeded by | Eric Rosenbach |
| Acting United States Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office June 21, 2013 – December 20, 2013 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Michael B. Donley |
| Succeeded by | Deborah Lee James |
| 24th United States Under Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office April 18, 2013 – February 17, 2015 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Erin C. Conaton |
| Succeeded by | Lisa Disbrow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eric Kenneth Fanning July 2, 1968 Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ben Masri-Cohen |
| Education | Dartmouth College (BA) |
Eric Kenneth Fanning (born July 2, 1968) is an American public servant who is the current President and CEO of Aerospace Industries Association and served as the 22nd Secretary of the Army, holding office from May 18, 2016 to January 20, 2017. Prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Army, Fanning was the 24th United States Under Secretary of the Air Force. He was the first openly gay head of any service in the US military.
Fanning spent the first 25 years of his career in a wide variety of roles, working in Congress, at the Department of Defense, in the White House, and as a consultant before eventually returning to the Pentagon. He is notable as being the only person to have held senior civilian appointments in the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense during his career.[1]