Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling

Because those five cabinet posts, those five posts are the ones that keep us out of danger. And each one of them has to be pretty savvy in what they do. And especially the defense secretary, because I'd love to be in on the questioning of any nominee to say, what do you think the defense department does? Just outline the list of what the defense department, the secretary of defense does.

Because those five cabinet posts, those five posts are the ones that keep us out of danger. And each one of them has to be pretty savvy in what they do. And especially the defense secretary, because I'd love to be in on the questioning of any nominee to say, what do you think the defense department does? Just outline the list of what the defense department, the secretary of defense does.

Because those five cabinet posts, those five posts are the ones that keep us out of danger. And each one of them has to be pretty savvy in what they do. And especially the defense secretary, because I'd love to be in on the questioning of any nominee to say, what do you think the defense department does? Just outline the list of what the defense department, the secretary of defense does.

Because as a young brigadier general, it was my one and only time on the joint staff, and I had to see the defense secretary every Friday along with one of the combatant commanders to go through contingency plans, what we call war plans. And you got to have a little bit more of a strategic view

Because as a young brigadier general, it was my one and only time on the joint staff, and I had to see the defense secretary every Friday along with one of the combatant commanders to go through contingency plans, what we call war plans. And you got to have a little bit more of a strategic view

Because as a young brigadier general, it was my one and only time on the joint staff, and I had to see the defense secretary every Friday along with one of the combatant commanders to go through contingency plans, what we call war plans. And you got to have a little bit more of a strategic view

in terms of just the capability of what our contingencies are, but you also have to do acquisition, personnel management, logistics around the world. I mean, Tim, right now, today, because I checked this morning, we've got 180,000 soldiers deployed outside the United States. There are over a hundred ships sailing at sea, and the US Air Force has conducted 5,000 sorties of different aircraft today.

in terms of just the capability of what our contingencies are, but you also have to do acquisition, personnel management, logistics around the world. I mean, Tim, right now, today, because I checked this morning, we've got 180,000 soldiers deployed outside the United States. There are over a hundred ships sailing at sea, and the US Air Force has conducted 5,000 sorties of different aircraft today.

in terms of just the capability of what our contingencies are, but you also have to do acquisition, personnel management, logistics around the world. I mean, Tim, right now, today, because I checked this morning, we've got 180,000 soldiers deployed outside the United States. There are over a hundred ships sailing at sea, and the US Air Force has conducted 5,000 sorties of different aircraft today.

You've got to manage all that. And that's just a daily thing. You're talking about an $800 billion budget. I mean, I consider myself a pretty smart guy and pretty savvy in terms of military operations. I would not want to be the Secretary of Defense. It would be too hard for most mere mortals. You know, you're doing acquisition defense spending.

You've got to manage all that. And that's just a daily thing. You're talking about an $800 billion budget. I mean, I consider myself a pretty smart guy and pretty savvy in terms of military operations. I would not want to be the Secretary of Defense. It would be too hard for most mere mortals. You know, you're doing acquisition defense spending.

You've got to manage all that. And that's just a daily thing. You're talking about an $800 billion budget. I mean, I consider myself a pretty smart guy and pretty savvy in terms of military operations. I would not want to be the Secretary of Defense. It would be too hard for most mere mortals. You know, you're doing acquisition defense spending.

I mean, I could name the tasks that fall under the secretary of defense and it would boggle most Americans minds. And to say, because a guy spent a couple of years in the military and then became a talk shows that he has. I mean, I don't know what it takes. I don't know what other kind of nominee the president could make. The president elect could make. but it better be a good one.

I mean, I could name the tasks that fall under the secretary of defense and it would boggle most Americans minds. And to say, because a guy spent a couple of years in the military and then became a talk shows that he has. I mean, I don't know what it takes. I don't know what other kind of nominee the president could make. The president elect could make. but it better be a good one.

I mean, I could name the tasks that fall under the secretary of defense and it would boggle most Americans minds. And to say, because a guy spent a couple of years in the military and then became a talk shows that he has. I mean, I don't know what it takes. I don't know what other kind of nominee the president could make. The president elect could make. but it better be a good one.

Cause like I said earlier, we're facing some of the biggest challenges I've ever seen in the international environment.

Cause like I said earlier, we're facing some of the biggest challenges I've ever seen in the international environment.

Cause like I said earlier, we're facing some of the biggest challenges I've ever seen in the international environment.

There's a thing called the executive presence problem. And put the character piece aside, you know, what you do and who you are. Don't even talk about that. But just from the standpoint of presence, someone with executive presence has gravitas. They know what they're doing. They have intellectual capability and emotional intelligence. They have a calmness about them.

There's a thing called the executive presence problem. And put the character piece aside, you know, what you do and who you are. Don't even talk about that. But just from the standpoint of presence, someone with executive presence has gravitas. They know what they're doing. They have intellectual capability and emotional intelligence. They have a calmness about them.