Washington, DC
Acting Under Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, the highest ranking gay member of the U.S. military hierarchy, is to be nominated as Secretary of the Army by President Obama. Fanning, 47, has a long, distinguished government service record. His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. If confirmed, Fanning will be the first openly gay secretary of a military branch.
Born in Michigan, Fanning is a Dartmouth College graduate. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Fanning's "deep well of knowledge and vast experience in the Pentagon, honed during his tenure as deputy undersecretary of the Navy and acting secretary of the Air Force, have been crucial assets for my front office."
Fanning served as a member of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund from 2004 to 2007. He favors the adoption by the U.S. military of a policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation including transgender persons.
Born in Michigan, Fanning is a Dartmouth College graduate. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Fanning's "deep well of knowledge and vast experience in the Pentagon, honed during his tenure as deputy undersecretary of the Navy and acting secretary of the Air Force, have been crucial assets for my front office."
Fanning served as a member of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund from 2004 to 2007. He favors the adoption by the U.S. military of a policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation including transgender persons.
