Buzz Worthy

It started as a rumor this morning, but by the end of the day it has turned into something more, because apparently everyone is talking about it, and wants to talk about it.

One of the finalists the Obama administration is considering for Deputy Secretary of Defense is former Undersecretary of the Navy Bob Work.

It is not surprising the Obama administration is looking for a highly qualified candidate for the job, but my impression is nobody saw this coming. Like many people I had heard lots of names, but most of the names I heard were people who were highly respected for their business and political skills, and understood defense strategy.

But Bob is different, he is a strategist with political and business skills. It is remarkable to me that one of the most respected and influential American civilian defense strategist in the 21st century is legitimately being considered for the second highest position in the Department of Defense, because that really doesn't happen. Usually the top strategists in the US work in think tanks or academia, and the best one can hope for running the DoD is someone like Ashton Carter, a highly skilled and qualified policy expert.

Can anyone remember the last time one of the nations top defense strategists of any era was appointed to run the Department?

What makes this remarkable to me, assuming the rumors and buzz is all legitimate, is it suggests what the White House is thinking. As a strategist rather than a politician, Bob Work will do what politicians don't do well when facing very hard and controversial choices...

Bob will stand beside Chuck Hagel and articulate the tough choices that have to be made.