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\"The American people deserve to know that you're making decisions in our country's best security interests, not in your own financial interests,\" Warren said. \"You can't make those commitments to this committee, that means you should not be confirmed as secretary of defense.\"

Esper defended himself, talking about attending West Point and military service in which he embraced the motto \"duty, honor and country.\"

\"I went to war for this country. I served overseas for this country,\" he said. \"I think the presumption is that anyone who comes from business or the corporate world is corrupt.\"

Several Republican senators later apologized to Esper for the confrontation. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said that Warren \"just needed a moment for her presidential campaign.\"

Defense officials and congressional leaders alike have expressed hope that a Defense secretary be confirmed before the August recess. Eric Chewning, chief of staff to the acting Defense secretary, has said the Senate can take as long as it needs to consider Esper's nomination, but added that \"historical precedent\" shows past defense secretaries have been confirmed in under a week.

Chairman James Inhofe, R-Okla., told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that the plan is to vote Esper's nomination out of committee on Thursday, with a final Senate vote next week.

During the confirmation process, Esper cannot serve in his acting role, so Navy Secretary Richard Spencer assumed the duties of acting Defense secretary on Monday afternoon when the White House submitted Esper's formal nomination to the Senate. Meanwhile, Esper has returned to serving as Army secretary.

\"PHOTO:
U.S. Navy
PHOTO: Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer speaks to command master chiefs at the 2019 Leadership Mess Symposium.
>

\"While my time in this role is anticipated to be brief, I am fully prepared and committed to serve as Acting Secretary of Defense, and I will provide continuity in the leadership of the Department,\" Spencer said in a letter to Defense Department personnel. \"Our allies and partners can rest assured that the Department of Defense remains ready to respond to meet our commitments around the globe in support of our common goals.\"

Richard V. Spencer serves as acting defense secretary starting July 15, following @POTUS Trump’s nomination of @SecArmy Dr. Mark T. Esper to become secretary of defense. It’s part of an orderly process of succession to ensure continuity of leadership in the Defense Department. pic.twitter.com/2XHXzZTLm0

— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) July 15, 2019

Esper graduated from West Point in 1986 -- the same class as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -- and went on to serve in the Army for over a decade, including a deployment to the Middle East during the Gulf War.

Before joining Raytheon, he spent a considerable amount of time on Capitol Hill as a Senate committee staffer and adviser to several senators. He was also the deputy assistant secretary of Defense for negotiations policy during the Bush administration.

As Army secretary, Esper spent time with the president, traveling with him to an Abrams tank factory in Ohio and to the southern border amidst the deployment of active duty soldiers there.

Esper stepped into his role as acting Defense secretary as the Trump administration was considering how to navigate increased tensions with Iran. And in late June, he attended a NATO defense ministerial in Brussels, urging U.S. allies to confront Iran.

His confirmation hearing comes as a number of top Pentagon jobs have yet to be permanently filled, including the deputy defense secretary, chief management officer and Air Force secretary.

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