The United States Senate has by voice vote confirmed the nomination of Eric Fanning to be the next United States Secretary of the Army. Fanning will be the first openly LGBT person to head one of the nation’s armed service branches.
President Obama nominated Fanning to the position eight months ago, and he moved slowly through the confirmation process after a number of Republican senators placed holds on his nomination over disputes with the White House regarding the closure of the detention center in Guantanamo Bay.
Fanning, who came out as gay in 1993, has previously served in a number of roles at the Department of Defense including Undersecretary of the Army, special assistant to the Secretary of Defense, acting Secretary of the Air Force, and Deputy Undersecretary of the Navy.