Defense Secretary Secretary of Defense Mark Milley Political Influence Personnel Changes Leadership Changes General Waker-Uz-Zaman Nominations Nomination Process Defense Secretary Nomination Joint Chiefs of Staff Restructuring Hegseth's Military Background Controversies Political Appointments Nominees Pentagon Maher Al-Assad Reshuffles Confirmation Hearings Rules of Engagement Secretary of Defense Nominee Gen. Mark Milley Resignation Gender Issues Consequences of Leadership C.Q. Brown General Mark Milley Trump Administration Military Culture Loyalty in Military Dismissals Lawful Orders Firing of Officials Pentagon Actions Military Law Political Purge Pentagon Dismissals Commander Dismissal Navy Military Pay Army Chiefs Intelligence Services Venezuelan Military Air Force Command Promotions Colonel Assimi Goita Transition of Power Executive Orders Diversity Policies Leadership Evaluation