Pete Geren

Pete Geren
20th United States Secretary of the Army
In office March 9, 2007 – September 16, 2009
President	George W. Bush Barack Obama
Preceded by	Francis J. Harvey
Succeeded by	John M. McHugh
United States Secretary of the Air Force Acting
In office June 29, 2005 – November 4, 2005
Preceded by	Michael L. Dominguez
Succeeded by	Michael Wynne
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 12th district
In office September 12, 1989 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Jim Wright
Succeeded by	Kay Granger
Personal details
Born	Preston Murdoch Geren, III (1952-01-29) January 29, 1952 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Rebecca (Beckie) Ray
Relations	Laurie Raesz (granddaughter), Charlie Geren (brother), Chandra Geren (sister), Eva Motheral (sister), Tav Holmes (sister), Tracy Holmes (sister), Toby Erwin (step-brother)
Children	Tracy Geren Raesz (married to Alex Raesz), Annie Geren, Mary Geren
Parent(s)	Preston Murdoch Geren, Jr. and Shirley Lupton Holmes
Alma mater	Georgia Tech University of Texas (B.A.) University of Texas Law School (J.D.)

Army Secretary Pete Geren (far left), accompanied by (from left to right) his wife, Beckie, his children, Mrs. Shelia Casey and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., during Mr. Geren's arrival ceremony as Secretary of the Army, Aug. 30, 2007.

Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty welcome home Minnesota National Guard Soldiers deployed with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division for the past 17 months at Volk Field, Wis., July 17.

Preston Murdoch Geren, III, known as Pete Geren (born January 29, 1952) served as the 20th United States Secretary of the Army from July 16, 2007 to September 16, 2009. He is a Democratic former member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 12th congressional district. He is currently president of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation in Fort Worth.

Early life and education

Geren was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia, from 1970 to 1973, where he was the starting center for the football team. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas in 1974 and his Juris Doctor from University of Texas Law School in 1978.

His older brother, Charlie Geren, is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 99 in Tarrant County.

Congressional career

Prior to entering public service, Geren was an attorney and businessman in Fort Worth. From 1983 to 1985 he was an aide to Democrat U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas.

From 1989 until 1997, Geren served for four terms in the United States House of Representatives. He was first elected in a special election to succeed former Speaker of the House Jim Wright. He narrowly defeated Republican candidate, well known Fort Worth allergist Bob Lanier (not to be confused with the mayor of Houston of the same name). Geren was re-elected for three more terms, but opted not to run in 1996. He was succeeded by Kay Granger.

While in Congress, Geren was credited with coining the term "Blue Dog Democrat". Moderate and conservative Democrats in Congress chose to name their group after this term, creating the Blue Dog Coalition. Geren opined that the members had been "choked blue" by "extreme" Democrats from the left. It is related to the political term "Yellow Dog Democrat," a reference to southern Democrats said to be so loyal they would even vote for a yellow dog if it were labeled a Democrat.

Department of Defense

Geren joined the Department of Defense in September 2001 to serve as Special Assistant to the Defense Secretary with responsibilities in the areas of inter-agency initiatives, legislative affairs and special projects.

On July 29, 2005, Bush appointed Geren the acting United States Secretary of the Air Force, a position he served in until the confirmation of his successor Michael Wynne in November 2005.

Geren was the 28th Undersecretary of the Army, a post he assumed on February 21, 2006, following his nomination by President George W. Bush and confirmation by the United States Senate. As the Undersecretary, Geren was the Army's No. 2 civilian leader. He served as the deputy and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and was Acting Secretary in the absence of the Secretary.

In March 2007, Geren was named Acting Secretary of the United States Army by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, after Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey resigned amidst the scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. On July 16, 2007, the Senate confirmed Geren as Secretary of the Army. On August 30, 2007, Geren established the independent Commission on Army Acquisition and Program Management in Expeditionary Operations to investigate the contingency contracting crisis within the army. This Gansler Commission was named after its chair, Jacques S. Gansler.

Quotes

• "We as an Army failed in our duty to the Tillman family, the duty we owe to all the families of our fallen soldiers: Give them the truth, the best we know it, as fast as we can."
• "We've doubled the funding in the budget for Family programs over the last year and we're continuing to have that funding, but there's no substitute for neighbors helping neighbors."
• "This is a tough time for the Army. But our Soldiers and Families are extraordinarily selfless, mission-focused folks. It is an honor to be around them, and it's our responsibility to take care of them."

See also

• List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines

External links

• Secretary of the Army official site

• United States Congress. "Pete Geren (id: G000134)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Appearances on C-SPAN