Gilbert Cisneros, Undersecretary of Defense, to resign.
Gilbert Cisneros Jr. to Step Down as Top Department of Defense Official
Gilbert Cisneros Jr., a highly regarded Department of Defense official, will be stepping down from his position in early September. Cisneros has been serving as the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness since August 24, 2021. In this role, he has been the top adviser to the secretary of defense on various critical matters, including force readiness, force management, health affairs, National Guard and Reserve component affairs, education and training, and personnel requirements.
Announcement of Departure
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced Cisneros’s upcoming departure on Monday morning. In a statement, Secretary Austin praised Cisneros’s dedication and commitment to the Department’s mission of taking care of its people. He highlighted Cisneros’s contributions in improving the quality of life for service members and their families, as well as his efforts in addressing harmful behavior and implementing recommendations from independent review commissions on sexual assault and suicide prevention.
Under Cisneros’s leadership, the personnel and readiness team implemented policies to ensure access to reproductive health care and contraceptives, prioritized the safety and well-being of the force during the COVID-19 pandemic, and advanced initiatives to enhance strategic readiness across the Department.
Criticism and Congressional Debates
During his tenure, Cisneros faced criticism from Republican members of Congress for the department’s focus on diversity and inclusion. In congressional hearings, he engaged in spirited debates defending the department’s policies and their underlying motivations.
Prior to his role in the Department of Defense, Cisneros briefly served in the House of Representatives. He began his military career by enlisting in the Navy in 1989 after graduating from high school. In 1994, he was commissioned as an officer in the service branch.
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