I’ve Experienced the Dangers of Tuberville's Military Blockade
Halting Senate confirmations over a controversial medical-care policy has a knock-on effect creating leadership voids across the armed services.
This ex-coach knows how to block.
Photographer: Julie Bennett/Getty Images
Senator Tommy Tuberville’s months-long hold on military promotions, concerning a Pentagon policy he says facilitates abortions, takes me back in time.
In 2006, I was nominated to become a four-star admiral and to head to Miami and take over US Southern Command. As the first Navy officer ever named to that post, I was proud, excited and a bit intimidated by the responsibilities ahead. But as I went through weeks of preparation for my testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, which had to approve the promotion (and roughly 50,000 others each year), a few storm clouds appeared on the horizon.