shanahan s withdraw from consideration last tuesday. mark esper, a highly rejected gentleman with a great career, tremendous talent, acting secretary of defense, he will do very well. the white house has been touting his resume, pointing to his qualifications and prudential s credentials, former vp of government relations firm working at the defense contractors working on senate committees. a doctorate in public policy from george washington and a recipient of a dod metal, news the president hopes to make esper permanent went over like a ton of bricks with democrats on the senate armed services committee. there is no permanent defense secretary. i imagine you think it is important at this moment to have one. seems like mark asper is the most likely person to take that