A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times – An Instant New York Times Bestseller: A Pentagon Insider's Tumultuous Years Under President Trump

by Mark T. Esper

In this short note, I told them, “It has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve alongside you as the 27th U.S. secretary of defense these last eighteen months in defense of our great Nation and adherence to our sworn oath to the Constitution.” I reminded everyone of the solid progress we made “implementing the National Defense Strategy” and “taking care of our military personnel, spouses, and their families,” while also launching “important initiatives” to improve diversity and inclusion in the armed services. I included in my note the reminder that “we have always put People and Country first”—an important message I thought the White House should hear as well. And I thanked them for remaining apolitical and living up to “those values and behaviors that represent the best of the military profession and mark the character and integrity of the Armed Forces the American people respect and admire”—the same message that I emphasized from day one.