According to the Associated Press and Fox News, Trump has named his pick to lead Homeland Security as retired four-star General John Kelly:
BREAKING: Trump taps retired four-star Gen. John Kelly to head Homeland Security, according to people close to transition.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 7, 2016
Reports: President-elect @realDonaldTrump to tap Gen. John Kelly to head @DHSgov. pic.twitter.com/NeWCHPv7Ql
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 7, 2016
Here’s more:
CBS NEWS – Kelly is the third general tapped by the president-elect, joining Gen. James Mattis, Mr. Trump’s pick to become the next secretary of Defense, and Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Mr. Trump’s incoming national security advisor.
Like Mattis, Kelly is a Marine with a reputation for bluntness.
Kelly was the commander of U.S. Southern Command until earlier this year. In that posting, he oversaw American military operations in South America and Central America.
Before that, he commanded American forces numerous times in Iraq, and spent a year as the top Marine in that country. He then was an aide to defense secretaries Leon Panetta and Robert Gates.
Unlike Flynn, Kelly did not endorse Mr. Trump during the campaign and indicated he would be open to serving in either a Republican or Democratic administration. He has also referred to domestic politics as a “cesspool” in an interview over the summer with Foreign Policy magazine.
Kelly, who served nearly 46 years in the Marine Corps, is the highest-ranking American military official to lose a child in combat since 9/11. His son, Marine Lt. Robert Michael Kelly, was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010.
UPDATE: Here’s more on Kelly:
General Kelly on his son. pic.twitter.com/sbaqHe7kGu
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) December 7, 2016
Marine Gen. John Kelly, on the increasing isolation of U.S. service members and vets from the rest of society. https://t.co/r3yvAX7Cjq pic.twitter.com/l84jzjkBpm
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) December 7, 2016
A terrific profile of the likely next DHS Secretary, John Kelly.
A Family Affair https://t.co/QSKkI3s0eF via @WeeklyStandard— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) December 7, 2016