Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced his Senior Advisor Robert Wilkie at his Senate Armed Services Nomination Hearing to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Mr. Wilkie was nominated to the position in July.
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“Since February of 2015, it has been an honor to have someone of Robert’s caliber to serve on my staff,” said Senator Tillis. “There is not a day that goes by that Robert and I don’t talk about the readiness of the military and I cannot think of anyone more qualified for the position of Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. It is truly bittersweet to lose him on my staff, but Robert is going to be a great addition to the Department of Defense and I look forward to working with him in my capacity as Chairman of the Senate Armed Service Subcommittee on Personnel on behalf of the men and women in uniform.”
Background:
Wilkie has served as Senator Tillis’ senior advisor since he took office in 2015, advising him on national security and military issues. Tillis currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, which handles all quality of life issues for servicemembers and military families.
Wilkie previously served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs under Robert Gates and Donald Rumsfeld. He also served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for National Security Affairs and as Senior Director of the National Security Council under Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
Wilkie is a reserve officer assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. He was previously assigned to the Headquarters of the United States Air Force. Prior to joining the Air Force, Wilkie served in the United States Navy Reserve with Naval Special Warfare Group Two and the Office of Naval Intelligence. Wilkie is a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, Air Command and Staff College, the United States Army War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College. He is the recipient of the Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest civilian award of the Department.
Wilkie, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, holds a Juris Doctor from Loyola University of New Orleans, a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University, a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, and an Honors degree in Politics from Wake Forest University.
