Mark Esper – Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Education

This article covers detailed information about Mark Esper bio, age, height, wife, net worth, education, and more.

So without any further delay, let’s get started –

Mark Esper Biography and Career

Mark Esper was born in April 1964 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Thomas Esper, a welfare caseworker. His mother is Pauline “Polly” Reagan, a homemaker whose ancestry can be traced back to County Cork in Ireland. Esper has three younger sisters – Patty Ann, Donna, and Beth Anne.

Esper was enlisted in the U.S. Military and served as an infantry officer with the 101st airborne division during the Gulf War. He later served in the Army National Guard and the 82nd Airborne Division. 

After leaving the military, he held senior executive positions with the Aerospace Industries Association, the Global Intellectual Property Center, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He also served as the chief of staff at the Heritage Foundation, a deputy assistant secretary of defense, and congressional staff. Esper also worked as Raytheon’s vice president of government affairs and advocated on behalf of the company before joining the Trump administration.

On June 19, 2017, President Donald Trump declared his intention to select Esper as Secretary of the Army. Esper was Trump’s third choice for the position after Mark E. Green and Vincent Viola. Later the United States Senate confirmed Esper as the 27th defense secretary by a vote difference of 90-8.

On November 15, 2017, he was confirmed for this position in the U.S. Senate, and on November 20, 2017, he took the oath of office. He worked in the office from July 23, 2019, to November 2020. 

In addition, he became the 23rd secretary of the Army in 2017. In 2019, Esper took the role of interim defense secretary.

On November 9, 2020, a few days after Joe Biden won the presidential election, Trump tweeted that Esper was “terminated,” and he was replaced by Christopher C. Miller, the head of the National Counterterrorism Center who would serve as Acting Secretary of Defense.

How tall is Mark Esper?

According to some sources, Mark Esper’s height is claimed to be 5 feet and 9 inches.

Who is Mark Esper’s Wife?

Mark married Leah Lacy in October 1989. Both have been dating secretly since the summer of 1988. 

Mark Esper Book

Mark Esper wrote the book A Sacred Oath, Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times. They published the memoir in May 2022.

The memoir talks about how decisions made by the Trump administration were influenced by worries about the president’s re-election in 2020. He also mentioned about quitting on multiple occasions but ultimately decided against it out of concern that his resignation would pave the way for a Trump supporter who would give the president harmful ideas.

As part of his book tour in 2022, Esper participated in various interviews. Esper claimed that Trump “went too far in too many things” during an interview with Fox & Friends. He also declared that he favored Trump’s impeachment in 2021 for encouraging the attack on the Capitol on January 6, where Trump tried to interfere with many things to overturn his loss in the election and retain power.

Mark Esper Net Worth

Mark Esper had a net worth estimated to be around $5 million before being fired. He also has additional income from investments like the $1 million in a Raytheon deferred compensation plan and more than $1.1 million in mutual and bond funds.

Mark Esper Education

Mark completed high school in 1982 at Laurel Highlands High School outside Uniontown, Pennsylvania. In 1986, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy. Mark Esper earned the award “Douglas MacArthur Prize for Leadership.”

Moreover, Esper has a master’s degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Ph.D. in public policy from George Washington University.

FAQ

Who is Mark Esper?

Mark Esper is a businessman and a politician. He held the position of the United States Secretary of Defense from July 2019 till July 2020.

How many children does Mark Esper have?

Mark and Leah have three children – Kate Esper, Luke Esper, and John Esper.