Over Sixty Retired Generals, Admirals, Ambassadors and Senior National Security Executives Sign Letter for Senate to Release the Hold on Hundreds of Military Promotions

08 August 2023

As retired Generals, Admirals, Diplomats and Senior Executives in national security, we took an oath of honor to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic. We carried this sacred obligation wherever duty called. 

It’s the same solemn oath our nation’s Congressional leaders take upon entering office. Today, we write to remind Senator Tommy Tuberville of that commitment, and urge him to protect our national security and military’s readiness by expeditiously ending his blockade of military appointments.

For months, Senator Tuberville has used Senate parliamentary tactics to place a hold on more than 280 military appointments and promotions as well as civilian senior defense officials. Already, the consequences are significant and will get worse as more time passes. The Pentagon does not have a Senate-confirmed Marine Corps commandant or an Army Chief of Staff for the first time in its history. Command positions led by three- and four-stars generals are vacant in key regions around the world. And perhaps most alarmingly, this reckless hold on appointments threatens to leave our nation’s most senior military officer, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, unfilled. Each of these vacancies has an impact down the chain of command, as promotions and rotations for officers and enlisted members assigned to support these nominees are halted – threatening military retention. 

These vacancies will deprive our Armed Forces of leadership, adversely affecting readiness and morale. At a time when we face urgent and increasing threats from foreign adversaries, we cannot afford to undercut our military’s ability to protect our security interests. And undoubtedly these vacancies send the wrong message to China and Russia on what is the finest fighting force in the world.

In addition to this national security risk, the human impact on our service members and their families should also concern every American. Across the country, men and women in our Armed Forces and their families are being forced to put their lives on hold as they wait in limbo for confirmation. At a time when support for our all-volunteer force is more important than ever, this uncertainty is discouraging to Americans considering military service.

Those impacted in our military community are questioning where they’ll live, where – or if – their spouses will work, and where their children will go to school. We know firsthand how complicated and stressful these circumstances can be for families. The honorable men and women who serve our nation across the globe deserve our respect – not made to be pawns as part of a political game.

Risking our military’s planning and preparedness, and our national security to make a political point is far out of bounds. The world is too dangerous to cede our leadership, which is why we urge Senator Tuberville swiftly end his blockade and to respect our nation’s service members and their families. 

Very respectfully,

General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.)

General Michael C. Hayden, USAF (Ret.)

Admiral John B. Nathman, USN (Ret.)

General Johnnie E. Wilson, USA (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Donald C. Arthur, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Ronald R. Blanck, USA (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Michael T. Franken, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Kevin P. Green, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General John D. Hopper, Jr., USAF (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Claudia J. Kennedy, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Charles P. Otstott, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Sandra E Adams, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Steven M. Anderson, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral James A. Barnett, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.)

Major General Peter S. Cooke, USA (Ret.)

Minister-Counselor Thomas M. Countryman, State (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) Glyn T. Davies

Major General Andrew B. Davis, USMC (Ret.)

Major General Richard T. Devereaux, USAF (Ret.)

Major General Paul D. Eaton, USA (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) Gerald M. Feierstein

Brigadier General Robert J. Felderman, USA (Ret.)

Major General J. Scott Gration, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Janice M. Hamby, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Charles D. Harr, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Leendert R. Hering Sr., USN (Ret.)

Major General Sanford E. Holman, USA  (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) Cameron R. Hume

Rear Admiral John D. Hutson, USN (Ret.)

Brigadier General David R. Irvine, USA (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) Dennis C. Jett

Ambassador (Ret.) Patrick F Kennedy

SES Bruce S. Lemkin, DOD (Ret.)

Major General Steven J. Lepper, USAF (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) Hugo Llorens

Major General Randy E. Manner, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Carlos E. Martinez, USAF (Ret.)

Brigadier General Joseph V. Medina, USMC (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) Tibor Nagy

Ambassador (Ret.) Ronald E. Neumann

Brigadier General James S. O'Meara, USMC (Ret.)

Major General Gale S Pollock, USA (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) Charles A. Ray

Rear Admiral Harold L. Robinson, USN  (Ret.)

Brigadier General John M. Schuster, USA (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) David H. Shinn

Ambassador (Ret.) Douglas A. Silliman

Major General Tammy S. Smith, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Todd J. Squire, USN (Ret.)

Major General Antonio M. Taguba, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Francis X. Taylor, USAF (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) Kurt W. Tong

Major General F. Andrew Turley, USAF (Ret.)

Ambassador (Ret.) Earl Anthony Wayne

Ambassador (Ret.) Pamela A. White

Major General Margaret C.  Wilmoth, USA (Ret.)

Major General Margaret H. Woodward, USAF (Ret.)

Brigadier General Daniel P. Woodward, USAF (Ret.)

Brigadier General Stephen N. Xenakis, USA (Ret.)

Major General David T. Zabecki, USA (Ret.)