Patrick Murphy (Pennsylvania politician)

Not to be confused with Patrick Murphy (Florida politician).
For other people named Patrick Murphy, see Patrick Murphy (disambiguation).

Patrick Murphy
United States Secretary of the Army
Acting
In office
January 11, 2016 – May 17, 2016
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byEric Fanning (acting)
Succeeded byEric Fanning
32nd United States Under Secretary of the Army[1]
In office
January 4, 2016 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byThomas Hawley (Acting)
Succeeded byKarl Schneider (Acting)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 8th district
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byMike Fitzpatrick
Succeeded byMike Fitzpatrick
Personal details
Born
Patrick Joseph Murphy

(1973-10-19) October 19, 1973 (age 51)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Jennifer Safford
​
​
(m. 2006; div. 2019)​
Children2
EducationKings College (BA)
Widener University (JD)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1996–2004
RankCaptain
Unit82nd Airborne Division
U.S. Army JAG Corps
Battles/warsIraq War
AwardsBronze Star

Patrick Joseph Murphy (born October 19, 1973) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd United States Under Secretary of the Army. He was the first veteran of the Iraq War to be elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district from 2007 to 2011. Murphy is a former anchor of Taking the Hill on MSNBC. Murphy is currently on the faculty of Wharton Business School and the Distinguished Chair of Innovation at the United States Military Academy.[2][3]

Murphy was confirmed by voice vote as Under Secretary of the Army by the U.S. Senate on December 18, 2015,[4] after having been nominated for the position by the President on August 5, 2015.[5] Murphy was sworn into the post on January 4, 2016.[6]

Murphy was considered by the leadership of the Presidential transition of Joe Biden to serve as the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs,[7] after having been considered for the same post by President Obama in 2014.[8] Denis McDonough, former White House Chief of Staff was chosen instead.

  1. ^ "Patrick J. Murphy, Former Under Secretary of the Army". defense.gov. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Patrick Murphy".
  3. ^ https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AS/AS26/20200730/110934/HHRG-116-AS26-Bio-MurphyP-20200730.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ "Murphy confirmed as Army undersecretary". The Citizens' Voice. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. December 19, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "President ObamaAnnounces More Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. August 5, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2016 – via National Archives.
  6. ^ "Under Secretary of the Army". Army.mil. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  7. ^ III, Leo Shane (November 17, 2020). "Biden's pick for VA Secretary may be a post-9/11 veteran". Military Times. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Hicks, Josh and Colby Itkowitz (May 30, 2014). "The Fed Page: Who will replace Shinseki in the long run?". Washington Post. Retrieved November 19, 2020.