John M. McHugh

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John M. McHugh's voice
John M. McHugh testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the 2014 Fort Hood shootings
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John McHugh
Army Secretary John McHugh.jpg
Official portrait, 2009
21st United States Secretary of the Army
In office
September 21, 2009 –November 1, 2015

John Michael McHugh (born September 29, 1948) is an American politician from the U.S. state of New York who served as the 21st United States Secretary of the Army, and represented the state's 23rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.

Contents

In June 2009, President Barack Obama nominated McHugh to the position of United States Secretary of the Army. His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate and he took office on September 21, 2009.

In July 2015, McHugh announced his intent to resign by November 2015. He retired on November 1, 2015 after more than six years of service. On September 18, 2015, President Obama nominated Eric Fanning to be his replacement.

Early life and career

McHugh was born in Watertown, New York. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1966 and attended Syracuse University; in 1970 he graduated from Utica College with a B.A. in political science. He later went on to receive a Master of Public Administration degree from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Graduate School of Public Affairs at the State University of New York at Albany in 1977. [1]

Though he was of draft age during the Vietnam War, [2] McHugh did not serve in the military. [3] He was an assistant to the Watertown city manager from 1971 to 1977. He served as an aide to State Senator H. Douglas Barclay from 1977 to 1984, when he was elected as Barclay's successor. McHugh was a member of the New York State Senate from 1985 to 1992, sitting in the 186th, 187th, 188th and 189th New York State Legislatures. [1]

McHugh is also a member on the Board of Directors at the Atlantic Council. [4]

Congressional career

McHugh as a Congressman Repjohnmmchugh.jpg
McHugh as a Congressman

He ran successfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 to replace Congressman David O'Brien Martin in the 24th district, which was renumbered as the 23rd district following redistricting after the 2000 census. This part of Upstate New York has historically been very Republican at the congressional level, though it has recently become more competitive in presidential elections. The district (and its predecessors) had been in Republican hands continuously since 1871, and some parts of the district had been represented by a Democrat since 1851. McHugh was reelected eight times with no substantive opposition, running unopposed in 2002. [5]

McHugh was a member of the board of directors of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York for 14 years, including a term as chairman. [6]

McHugh was the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, and was also a senior member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He was chairman of the Oversight Committee's Post Service Subcommittee for six years, and worked to pass legislation to significantly reform the U.S. Postal Service for the first time since it was demoted from a Cabinet-rank department with passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (Pub. L. Tooltip Public Law (United States)  109–435 (text) (PDF)) in 2006. He was a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 2005 to 2009. [6]

McHugh defeated his Democratic opponent, Dr. Robert J. Johnson, in 2004 and again in 2006. During the campaign, Dr. Johnson found himself unable to fly due to his name appearing on the No Fly List. [7] At the time, Johnson speculated that he was added to the list because of his anti-war views and opposition to McHugh. McHugh's office denied any wrongdoing. A later CBS News investigation discovered that the name "Robert Johnson" appeared on the list due to its use as an alias by a man convicted of plotting bombings in Toronto. Several other men named Robert Johnson were affected by its inclusion. [8]

McHugh was the only one of New York's eight Republican House incumbents to win more than 60% of the vote in 2006. The other seven were either defeated or were held below 60% by their Democratic challengers. McHugh defeated Democrat Mike Oot in 2008, garnering 65.3% of the vote. [9]

Political views

McHugh is a moderate Republican. He had a lifetime rating of 83% from the American Conservative Union. [10]

He was one of only 8 House Republicans to vote "yes" the American Clean Energy Act (also known as Cap and Trade) on June 26, 2009; the measure passed by only eight votes. [11]

Secretary of the Army

Visits with soldiers from 14 NATO and European partner nations during exercise Combined Resolve II at the Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, May 17, 2014. Secretary of the Army visits Combined Resolve II (14231258723).jpg
Visits with soldiers from 14 NATO and European partner nations during exercise Combined Resolve II at the Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, May 17, 2014.

On June 2, 2009, McHugh was nominated to the position of Secretary of the Army, by President Barack Obama. [12] [13] He was confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote on September 16, 2009. [14] He was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Army at a Pentagon ceremony on September 21, 2009. [15] McHugh, a Republican appointed by a Democratic president, succeeded Pete Geren, a Democrat appointed by a Republican president. [16] McHugh never served in the military, but in nominating him, President Obama indicated his view that McHugh's extensive experience on the House Armed Services Committee had prepared him to serve as the Army's top civilian. [17]

In March 2010 McHugh said that he would not pursue discharges against soldiers who told him privately that they were gay. McHugh said he has talked to openly gay soldiers as part of assessing the force's opinion on the repeal of a controversial law that bans openly gay people from serving in the military. Under then current law, known as "Don't ask, don't tell," service members who declare that they are gay would have to be discharged. [18]

In May 2010, McHugh was granted an honorary degree from the State University of New York Board of Trustees, to be presented during the commencement ceremonies at SUNY Oswego. When the decision to award McHugh the honorary degree was made public, the SUNY Oswego Pride Alliance, an LGBT student group, organized a protest to be held on campus during the ceremony, with students specifically taking issue with his voting record on gay rights. Following weeks of debate on campus, which included a Student Association Senate resolution condemning the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, McHugh withdrew from the ceremony, stating, "it is obvious that my presence at the ceremony might well have a disruptive effect." [19]

In March 2015, McHugh revoked a rule allowing Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) to have their ashes interred at Arlington National Cemetery, ruling these women lacked eligibility due to their classification during the war as civilians. [20] This, in spite of the hazards of the duty (38 died while serving their country). [21] After McHugh stepped down, Congress introduced legislation to reverse McHugh's action. The legislation passed on May 12, 2016, and was signed into law by President Obama on May 20, 2016. [21] [22]

In July 2015, McHugh announced his intent to resign as secretary by November 1, 2015. He had "expressed his desire to [do so] several weeks" earlier. At the time of the announcement defense secretary Ashton Carter and senior New York senator Charles Schumer expressed praise and appreciation for McHugh's service. [23]

In September 2015, President Obama nominated Eric Fanning, who had been serving most recently as interim under secretary, to be McHugh's permanent replacement as secretary. [24]

On October 23, 2015 the Army conducted a farewell ceremony for McHugh, which was presided over by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. During the ceremony McHugh was presented with the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. McHugh completed his term on October 31, 2015. [25]

Later career

In June 2016, the K&L Gates international law firm announced that McHugh and his longtime aide, Anne LeMay, had joined the firm to advise clients on procurement and other defense policy matters. [26]

Personal

McHugh is divorced [27] from Katherine Sullivan, a daughter of Assemblywoman Frances T. Sullivan. [28] He lives in the hamlet of Pierrepont Manor.

In 2006, McHugh was named one of the 50 most beautiful people on Capitol Hill by The Hill magazine. [29]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Annual Alumni Dinner & Awards ceremony: Biography, John M. McHugh". Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy. State University of New York at Albany. 2015. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ "The Vietnam Lotteries". www.sss.gov/. Washington, DC: Selective Service System. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  3. ↑ Silva, Mark (June 3, 2009). "Rep. John McHugh is Obama's Nominee for Army Secretary". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA.
  4. ↑ "Board of Directors". Atlantic Council. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Secretary of the Army: Who Is John McHugh?". AllGov.com. July 18, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "John M. McHugh". U.S. Department of Defense . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ John Nichols. "Why's a retired army lieutenant colonel on the No-Fly list?". The Nation. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Dr. Robert Johnson "no fly" controversy". Cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  9. ↑ McNichol, Jody (November 5, 2008). "McHugh bests Oot in 23rd District". The Oneida Daily Dispatch. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  10. ↑ John M. McHugh's Political Summary. votesmart.org. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  11. ↑ Sheppard, Kate (June 27, 2009). "House passes landmark climate and clean-energy bill". Grist . Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Obama Pick for Army Secretary Wary of Gitmo Closure". Fox News. June 2, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
  13. ↑ "ABC News: Obama picks North Country congressman as Secretary of Army". Times Union (Albany) . June 2, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
  14. ↑ Associated Press file photo (September 17, 2009). "Rep. John McHugh is confirmed as Secretary of the Army". syracuse.com. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  15. ↑ "McHugh Becomes Secretary Of The Army, Resigns Congressional Seat | WWNY TV 7 – News, Weather and Sports for | Local News". Wwnytv.com. September 21, 2009. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Obama nominates GOP congressman as Army secretary – CNN.com". CNN. June 2, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  17. ↑ Cillizza, Chris (June 3, 2009). "Obama Taps Republican Lawmaker John McHugh to Be Army Secretary". Washington Post. Washington, DC.
  18. ↑ Tiron, Roxana (March 31, 2010). "Army secretary won't discharge soldiers who privately tell him they're gay". Thehill.com. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  19. ↑ Groom, Debra J. (May 11, 2010). "Army Secretary John McHugh won't attend Oswego State graduation". The Post-Standard . Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  20. ↑ Weiner, Rachel (January 11, 2016). "Legislation introduced to allow the burial of WASPs at Arlington Cemetery". Washington Post. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  21. 1 2 Mikulski, Senator Barbara A. "MIKULSKI HERALDS CONGRESS PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO RESTORE INURNMENT RIGHTS OF WASP AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY". Barbara A. Mikulski United States Senator for Maryland. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Obama signs bill to allow female pilots' ashes at Arlington". Navy Times. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  23. ↑ Weiner, Mark, "Army Secretary John McHugh plans to resign by November", syracuse.com, June 08, 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
  24. ↑ Cooper, Helene, "Eric Fanning, Civilian Adviser, Named Secretary of the Army", New York Times, September 18, 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
  25. ↑ Tan, Michelle (October 23, 2015). "Army Farewells Secretary John McHugh". Army Times. Springfield, VA.
  26. ↑ "K&L Gates Adds Former Secretary of U.S. Army, Veteran N.Y. Congressman John M. McHugh and Longtime Advisor Anne R. LeMay to Public Policy Practice" (Press release). Washington, DC: K&L Gates. Public Relations and Communications. June 8, 2016. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  27. ↑ "John McHugh marriage details". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  28. ↑ ENGAGEMENTS; Miss Sullivan, John M. McHugh in the New York Times on June 7, 1992
  29. ↑ "50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill". Archived from the original on November 16, 2006. Retrieved April 25, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Retrieved November 3, 2008.
New York State Senate
Preceded by Member of the New York Senate
from the 46th district
1985–1992		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 24th congressional district
1993–2003		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 23rd congressional district
2003–2009		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by United States Secretary of the Army
2009–2015		Succeeded by
Eric Fanning
Acting
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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