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 nation’s 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 Army’s role as the conflict with Iran continues.ARMY CUTS HELICOPTERS, PUSHES ‘AMAZON FOR WAR’ AS DRONE COMBAT RESHAPES MILITARYSecretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael R.Weimer honored Old Dominion University Army ROTC cadets with eight Meritorious Service Medals and two Purple Hearts during a private ceremony on March 22, 2026, recognizing their courage in the March 12 classroom shooting.
(Ian Ives / U.S.Army)Army Undersecretary Mike Obadal could serve as acting secretary once Driscoll’s 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 firings— including then-Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao becoming acting Navy secretary after John Phelan’s departure this year.Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman and a senior adviser to Hegseth, has emerged as one potential candidate, according to sources.PENTAGON FIRES BACK AFTER MARK KELLY ACCUSES PETE HEGSETH OF TARGETING WOMEN AND BLACK MILITARY OFFICERSChief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon on Mar.17, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
(Alex Wong/Getty Images)"A lot of people inside [Office of the Secretary of War] want to see Sean Parnell become the next Secretary of the Army becau...