Mark Esper

Imagine a grown-up who used to be a soldier and then became a super important leader for the country's military! That's Mark Esper. He was born a long time ago, on April 26, 1964. He’s like a captain of a giant ship, but instead of a ship, he helped lead the United States Army and then the whole U.S. military. He worked in a big job called Secretary of Defense, which is a really big deal!

Before Mark Esper was a big leader, he was a brave soldier! He went to a special school called West Point, just like many soldiers do. Then, he joined the U.S. Army and even fought in a war called the Gulf War. He was an infantry officer, which means he led soldiers on the ground. He was part of the famous 101st Airborne Division, known for jumping out of planes!

Mark Esper had many important jobs before becoming Secretary of Defense. He worked in places that helped people understand how important defense is. He was also a top helper in Congress, which is where laws are made. Then, he worked for a company that makes things for the military, like airplanes and other cool machines. These jobs helped him learn a lot about keeping our country safe.

In 2017, Mark Esper became the Secretary of the Army, which is like being the boss of all the soldiers. Then, in 2019, he got an even bigger job: the Secretary of Defense! This means he was in charge of all the U.S. military branches, like the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He made big decisions to help protect the country. He was chosen for this job by a lot of people who voted for him.