Pete Geren



Preston Murdoch "Pete" Geren, III (born January 29, 1952 in Fort Worth, Texas) served as the 20th United States Secretary of the Army from July 16, 2007 to September 16, 2009. He is also a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas. He is currently president of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation in Fort Worth, Texas.

Education
Geren attended Georgia Tech from 1970 to 1973 (where he was the starting center for the football team) and received his B.A. from the University of Texas in 1974 and his Juris Doctor from University of Texas Law School in 1978.

Congressional career
Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Geren was an attorney and businessman in Fort Worth, Texas. He was an aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen (1983–1985).

From 1989 until 1997, Geren was a Democratic member of the U.S. Congress, representing Texas's 12th congressional district for four terms. He was first elected in a special election to succeed former Speaker of the House Jim Wright for the 12th congressional district in Texas, narrowly defeating Republican candidate, well known Fort Worth allergist Bob Lanier (not to be confused with the Houston mayor of the same name). Geren was re-elected for three more terms, but opted not to run in 1996. He was succeeded by Kay Granger.

While in Congress, Geren was credited with coining the term "Blue Dog Democrat". Moderate and conservative Democrats in Congress chose to name their group after this term, creating the Blue Dog Coalition. Geren opined that the members had been "choked blue" by "extreme" Democrats from the left. It is related to the political term "Yellow Dog Democrat," a reference to southern Democrats said to be so loyal they would even vote for a yellow dog if it were labeled Democrat.

Department of Defense
Geren joined the Department of Defense in September 2001 to serve as Special Assistant to the Defense Secretary with responsibilities in the areas of inter-agency initiatives, legislative affairs and special projects.

On July 29, 2005, Bush appointed Geren the acting United States Secretary of the Air Force, a position he served in until the confirmation of his successor Michael Wynne in November 2005. Geren was the 28th Undersecretary of the Army, a post he assumed on February 21, 2006, following his nomination by President George W. Bush and confirmation by the United States Senate. As the Undersecretary, Geren was the Army's No. 2 civilian leader. He served as the deputy and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and was Acting Secretary in the absence of the Secretary.

In March 2007, Geren was named Acting Secretary of the United States Army by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, after Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey resigned amidst the scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. On July 16, 2007, the Senate confirmed Geren as Secretary of the Army.

Quotes

 * "We as an Army failed in our duty to the Tillman family, the duty we owe to all the families of our fallen soldiers: Give them the truth, the best we know it, as fast as we can."