Robert Work, former Navy undersecretary for four years until March 2013, was confirmed by a voice vote in the Senate late Wednesday night to rejoin the Pentagon and serve as deputy defense secretary, the Defense Department said Tuesday.
Work has led the Center for a New American Security in Washington as CEO since leaving the Pentagon last year.
He succeeds Christine Fox, who has served as the Pentagon’s acting deputy secretary since December after the retirement of Ash Carter.
Work, a 27-year Marine Corps veteran, retired from the military in 2001 and joined the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments as senior fellow for maritime affairs and later became vice president for strategic studies.
He also led the Department of the Navy issue team as part of President Barack Obama’s 2008 transition team for DoD and also served on the defense policy, acquisition and budget teams.
