The hunt is on for the next Secretary of the Army after Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation to the White House, opening a key leadership vacancy atop the nations largest military branch.
Driscoll said Wednesday will be his “last full day” serving as Army secretary, adding that serving in the role under President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been “the honor of a lifetime.”
The next Army secretary will inherit a service undergoing a major transformation, with questions over readiness and the Armys role as the conflict with Iran continues.
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Army Undersecretary Mike Obadal could serve as acting secretary once Driscolls departure is finalized. A former special operations officer and defense industry executive, Obadal has also taken on a more public-facing role, including speaking at conferences.
In the Trump administration, deputy officials have repeatedly stepped into top leadership roles after resignations or firingsâ including then-Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao becoming acting Navy secretary after John Phelans departure this year.
Sean Parnell, the Pentagons chief spokesman and a senior adviser to Hegseth, has emerged as one potential candidate, according to sources.
“A lot of people inside [Office of the Secretary of War] want to see Sean Parnell become the next Secretary of the Army because theyve worked alongside him and know what he brings to the table,” a senior administration official told Fox News Digital.
Parnell, who serves as Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs, is a former United States Army captain whose platoon killed over 350 enemy fighters at the height of the Afghan War.
He unsuccessfully ran for the House in 2020 before launching a 2021 campaign for Pennsylvanias open Senate seat, earning Trumps endorsement. He later suspended his campaign amid domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife, Laurie Snell, which he denied.
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The senior administration official said Parnell understands the Pentagon and the problems inside from military experience paired with his work at the highest levels of the institution.
“He also understands the importance of working alongside General LeNeve, who has been carrying an enormous load to keep the Army moving, and giving the Army Staff the leadership and support they need to get it back on track,” the official said, referring to the acting Army chief of staff.
A senior Pentagon official told Fox News Digital Parnell has “proven time and time again” that he is loyal to the president, citing, that Parnell was present
