Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has zeroed in on a preferred candidate to become the next Army Secretary, according to a new report — but the White House is staying tight-lipped about the search to replace the outgoing Dan Driscoll.
CBS News reported Thursday that Hegseth favors Sean Parnell, a former Army Ranger and current chief Pentagon spokesman, for the top civilian job at the Department of the Army. Parnell, who commanded an elite platoon in Afghanistan and later ran for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania with President Donald Trump’s endorsement, has emerged as the leading contender in what is shaping up to be a closely watched personnel decision.
The Department of War declined to confirm the report, telling CBS News, “The DOW doesn’t comment on private conversations between administration officials.” White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is reportedly heading up the search for Driscoll’s successor and is currently reviewing potential candidates, though President Trump has not publicly disclosed a shortlist.
A decorated combat record
Parnell’s military background is the centerpiece of his resume. Before joining the Pentagon press office, he served in Afghanistan, where his War Department bio describes him as commanding “one of the most decorated units in the history of the Afghanistan War.”
During a 16-month deployment, Parnell was awarded two Bronze Stars — one for valor — and the Purple Heart, according to his official biography. The toll of that deployment was staggering: 85 percent of his platoon received Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in battle.
After being medically retired from the Army, Parnell chronicled his experiences in the best-selling book “Outlaw Platoon,” which detailed his time leading soldiers in some of the war’s most dangerous terrain.
From battlefield to political arena
Parnell’s path to the Pentagon’s top civilian role has not been without controversy. In 2021, he launched a bid for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania with Trump’s endorsement, but suspended his campaign amid a contentious divorce that included accusations of abuse. Parnell denied the allegations from the outset.
In a subsequent social media post about his family court case, Parnell asserted he had been “vindicated.”
The move to consider Parnell comes amid friction between Hegseth and the outgoing Army Secretary. Driscoll announced his resignation Monday following reports that he had spent months at odds with Hegseth over policy and leadership direction.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly praised Driscoll’s tenure in a statement following his departure, saying he had been “highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army.”
What’s next
Wiles is said to be managing the vetting process, which could involve multiple candidates before Trump makes a final decision. The Army Secretary role is a critical civilian leadership position, overseeing the service’s budget, personnel, and modernization efforts.
Parnell’s combination of combat experience and public communications work — plus his political ties to Trump’s orbit — makes him a notable figure in the running. But with no formal shortlist announced, the process remains fluid.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment beyond its statement to CBS News.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-decorated-war-veteran-could-be-next-to-lead-the-army