Pete Geren
Encyclopedia
Preston M. "Pete" Geren, III (born January 29, 1952 in Fort Worth, Texas
) served as the 20th United States Secretary of the Army
from July 16, 2007 to September 16, 2009. He is also a former member of the United States House of Representatives
from Texas
.
for the football
team) and received his B.A.
from the University of Texas in 1974 and his Juris Doctor
from University of Texas Law School in 1978.
, Geren was an attorney
and businessman in Fort Worth, Texas
. He was an aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen
(1983–1985).
From 1989 until 1997, Geren was a Democratic
member of the U.S. Congress, representing Texas's 12th congressional district
for four terms. He was first elected in a special election to succeed former Speaker of the House
Jim Wright
for the 12th congressional district in Texas
, narrowly defeating Republican
candidate, well known Fort Worth allergist Bob Lanier (not to be confused with the Houston mayor of the same name). Geren was re-elected for three more terms, but opted not to run in 1996. He was succeeded by Kay Granger
.
with responsibilities in the areas of inter-agency initiatives, legislative affairs and special projects.
On July 29, 2005, Bush appointed Geren the acting United States Secretary of the Air Force
, a position he served in until the confirmation of his successor Michael Wynne
in November 2005.
Geren was the 28th Undersecretary of the Army
, a post he assumed on February 21, 2006, following his nomination by President George W. Bush
and confirmation by the United States Senate
. As the Undersecretary, Geren was the Army's No. 2 civilian leader. He served as the deputy and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and was Acting Secretary in the absence of the Secretary.
In March 2007, Geren was named Acting Secretary of the United States Army by Defense Secretary Robert Gates
, after Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey
resigned amidst the scandal
at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
. On July 16, 2007, the Senate confirmed Geren as Secretary of the Army.
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
) served as the 20th United States Secretary of the Army
United States Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official within the Department of Defense of the United States of America with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and...
from July 16, 2007 to September 16, 2009. He is also a former member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Education
Geren attended Georgia Tech from 1970 to 1973 (where he was the starting centerCenter (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team) and received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Texas in 1974 and his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from University of Texas Law School in 1978.
Congressional career
Prior to joining the Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, Geren was an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and businessman in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. He was an aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen
Lloyd Bentsen
Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr. was a four-term United States senator from Texas and the Democratic Party nominee for Vice President in 1988 on the Michael Dukakis ticket. He also served in the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1955. In his later political life, he was Chairman of the Senate...
(1983–1985).
From 1989 until 1997, Geren was a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the U.S. Congress, representing Texas's 12th congressional district
Texas's 12th congressional district
Texas District 12 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves the western half of Tarrant County as well as all of Parker and Wise counties in the state of Texas. The current Representative from District 12 is Kay Granger.-List of representatives:-Election...
for four terms. He was first elected in a special election to succeed former Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Jim Wright
Jim Wright
James Claude Wright, Jr. , usually known as Jim Wright, is a former Democratic U.S. Congressman from Texas who served 34 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and was the Speaker of the House from 1987 to 1989.-Early life:...
for the 12th congressional district in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, narrowly defeating Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate, well known Fort Worth allergist Bob Lanier (not to be confused with the Houston mayor of the same name). Geren was re-elected for three more terms, but opted not to run in 1996. He was succeeded by Kay Granger
Kay Granger
Kay Granger , a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Texas, currently represents the 12th congressional district in the U.S...
.
Department of Defense
Geren joined the Department of Defense in September 2001 to serve as Special Assistant to the Defense SecretaryUnited States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
with responsibilities in the areas of inter-agency initiatives, legislative affairs and special projects.
On July 29, 2005, Bush appointed Geren the acting United States Secretary of the Air Force
United States Secretary of the Air Force
The Secretary of the Air Force is the Head of the Department of the Air Force, a component organization within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate...
, a position he served in until the confirmation of his successor Michael Wynne
Michael Wynne
Michael W. Wynne is an American business executive and was the 21st United States Secretary of the Air Force. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asked for and received his resignation Michael W. Wynne (born September 4, 1944) is an American business executive and was the 21st United States...
in November 2005.
United States Under Secretary of the Army
The United States Under Secretary of the Army is the second-highest ranking civilian official of the United States Department of the Army, serving directly under the United States Secretary of the Army...
, a post he assumed on February 21, 2006, following his nomination by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and confirmation by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. As the Undersecretary, Geren was the Army's No. 2 civilian leader. He served as the deputy and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and was Acting Secretary in the absence of the Secretary.
In March 2007, Geren was named Acting Secretary of the United States Army by Defense Secretary Robert Gates
Robert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
, after Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey
Francis J. Harvey
Francis Joseph Harvey served as the 19th Secretary of the United States Army from November 19, 2004 to March 9, 2007.-Education and family:Harvey was born and raised in Latrobe, Pennsylvania...
resigned amidst the scandal
Walter Reed Army Medical Center neglect scandal
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center neglect scandal resulted from a series of allegations of unsatisfactory conditions and management at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. culminating in two articles published by The Washington Post in February 2007...
at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was the United States Army's flagship medical center until 2011. Located on 113 acres in Washington, D.C., it served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military...
. On July 16, 2007, the Senate confirmed Geren as Secretary of the Army.
Christian Embassy Scandal
Mr. Geren, while a senior defense appointee, appeared in a Christian evangelical video at the Pentagon. An IG investigation later determined that he had not referred to his position.Quotes
- "We as an Army failed in our duty to the TillmanPat TillmanCorporal Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman Jr. was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the...
family, the duty we owe to all the families of our fallen soldiers: Give them the truth, the best we know it, as fast as we can."
See also
- List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines