Patrick Shanahan (politician)

Patrick Shanahan is an American businessman and former government official. He served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense from 2017 to 2019 and as Acting Secretary of Defense in 2019.

Shanahan's career prior to government service was primarily in the aerospace industry. He worked for Boeing for over 30 years, holding various leadership positions within the company, including Senior Vice President, Supply Chain & Operations.

In March 2017, he was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He was confirmed by the Senate and assumed office in July 2017.

Following the resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis in December 2018, Shanahan became the Acting Secretary of Defense on January 1, 2019. He held this position until June 2019, when he withdrew his nomination to be the permanent Secretary of Defense.

Shanahan's tenure as Acting Secretary of Defense was marked by his focus on implementing the National Defense Strategy, which prioritized competition with China and Russia. He also played a role in managing ongoing military operations in various parts of the world.