Preston M. Geren

Preston M. Geren

Preston M. "Pete" Geren III. (Born January 29, 1952 in Fort Worth , Texas ) is an American politician . He is a former United States Air Force and Army Secretary of State.

Studies and professional career

Geren completed a general education program at the Georgia Institute of Technology from 1970 to 1973 and then at the University of Texas at Austin , which he completed in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) . He then studied law at the Law School of the University of Texas, where he graduated in 1978 with a Juris Doctor . After being admitted to the bar in 1978, he worked as a lawyer and businessman in Fort Worth. Between 1999 and 2001 he was a member of the board of directors at Dallas / Fort Worth Airport .

Political career

Congressman

In 1986, US Senator Lloyd Bentsen appointed him as his executive assistant. Geren began his real political career in 1989 with the election to the US House of Representatives after his first candidacy in 1986 had failed. There the Democrat represented the interests of the 12th  Congressional Constituency of Texas. For the first time he was elected as the successor to the resigned Speaker of the House of Representatives , Jim Wright , in a by-election. In 1996, he decided not to run again.

During his membership in the House of Representatives, he served on the Defense (Armed Services), Science and Technology, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees.

Secretary of State under President Bush

In September 2001 he became a special assistant to the Minister of Defense . In this role he was responsible for legislation and special projects. On July 29, 2005, President George W. Bush appointed him acting Secretary of the Air Force . He held this office until he was replaced by Michael Wynne on November 4, 2005. On February 21, 2006, he succeeded Raymond F. DuBois as Deputy Secretary of State ( Under Secretary of the Army ).

As such, he was appointed by President Bush on March 10, 2007 to succeed Francis J. Harvey, who had resigned because of a scandal, as acting Secretary of the Army . After confirmation by the US Senate, he was finally able to officially take up this office on July 16, 2007. In September 2009 he was replaced by John M. McHugh .

Web links

Commons : Pete Geren  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Preston M. Geren in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)