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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 26 OctOber 2022
Ash Carter, defense chief who opened combat to women, dies

By TARA COPP forded the opportunity to
Associated Press compete to do so,” Carter
WASHINGTON (AP) — For- said in June 2016, laying
mer Defense Secretary Ash out a one-year plan to
Carter, who opened com- implement the change.
bat jobs to women and “Our mission is to defend
ended a ban on transgen- this country, and we don’t
der people serving in the want barriers unrelated to
military, has died at age 68. a person’s qualification to
Carter died Monday eve- serve preventing us from
ning after suffering a heart recruiting or retaining the
attack in Boston, his family soldier, sailor, airman or
said in a statement Tues- Marine who can best ac-
day. Known as a defense complish the mission.”
thinker and strategist, Cart- Before Carter was named
er was a nuclear expert, the Defense Department
three-time Pentagon ex- secretary, he served in
ecutive, budget guru and President Barack Obama’s
academician who had administration as the Pen-
served as a defense civil- tagon’s top procurement
ian in the building over a officer and oversaw the
period of 35 years. department’s effort to
Gen. Martin Dempsey, for- speed more than 24,000 Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon, June 30, 2016.
mer chairman of the Joint Mine-Resistant Ambush Carter, who served as secretary of defense in the final two years of the Obama administration,
Chiefs of Staff, noted at Protected vehicles to Iraq has died at age 68.
Carter’s retirement cer- and Afghanistan during the Associated Press
emony in 2017 that his fo- height of both conflicts to
cus on the less glamourous better protect U.S. troops.
aspects of the job such At the time, thousands
as people management of U.S. troops were being
had made him known as maimed or killed by road-
the “most important, least side bombs because there
known figure in Washing- was not adequate protec-
ton.” Carter had not previ- tion in the vehicles they
ously served in the military were operating. Carter
but mastered the nuts and frequently mentioned the
bolts of the Defense De- rapid development and
partment, a skill set that procurement of those vehi-
helped him quietly shape cles as one of his proudest
notable change, particu- accomplishments.
larly when it came to who “At peak production, the
was allowed to serve in uni- United States shipped over
form. In December 2015, 1,000 MRAPs a month to
after three years of study theater. And there, they
and debate, Carter or- saved lives,” Carter said at
dered the military to open a 2012 ceremony marking
all jobs to women, remov- the completion of the ve-
ing the final barriers that hicle production. “And you
kept women from serving all know me, I would have
in combat, including the driven one in here today,
most dangerous and gruel- if I could get it through the
ing commando posts. door.” Carter was sworn
“I made the decision to in as defense secretary in
admit women to all military February 2015. He was im-
specialties without excep- mediately confronted with
tion,” Carter said in a later the rise of the Islamic State
interview on the decision. group in Iraq and Syria and
“They are 50% of the popu- China’s rapid militariza-
lation. We can’t afford to tion of islands in the South
leave off the table half of China Sea. During his ten-
the population who can, if ure Carter oversaw the
they’re the ones who have Obama administration’s
the best qualifications, do “Pivot to the Pacific,” an
the job.” attempt to rebalance mili-
The following year, Carter, tary resources and focus
was responsible for ending on a rising China. He trav-
the ban on transgender eled multiple times to U.S.
troops, saying it was the aircraft carriers in the Pa-
right thing to do. cific as the U.S. increased
“Americans who want to its naval presence there to
serve and can meet our counter Beijing’s own more
standards should be af- aggressive stance. q