Christine Wormuth
Secretary of the Army
Christine Elizabeth Wormuth was born in April 1969 in San Diego, California. She earned an undergraduate degree in political science from Williams College in Massachusetts and received a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Maryland.
She entered government service as a Presidential Management Intern in President Clinton’s administration, spending the next six and a half years as a civil servant in the Defense Department. Later, she worked as a government consultant and then a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
During President Obama’s administration, she served in the National Security Council as the Special Assistant to the President and the Defense Policy and Strategy Senior director. She became the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense. President Obama nominated her to serve as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. She was confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote. At the conclusion of her tenure, she was appointed the director of the RAND International Security and Defense Policy Center.
President Joe Biden nominated Wormuth to serve as the Secretary of the Army, the first woman to hold that position. She was unanimously confirmed by the Senate and assumed her position on May 28, 2021.
In the News…
Newly installed Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said she would push initiatives meant to better “character and culture” in the force.
“Our people are the top priority effort and I intend to champion a full range of initiatives to better the force. Character and culture matter,” she said in a statement to the force.
She said she will work to “eliminate harmful behaviors that undermine readiness.” The secretary said, ”There is no place in our Army for sexual harassment and assault, domestic violence, extremism or racism.”
She also promised to push modernization efforts so the Army may “adapt and stay ahead of the capabilities of our adversaries.”
