Former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has died. Carter served under President Barack Obama from 2015-2017.
ABC News reported that Carter, 68, passed away on Tuesday from a “sudden cardiac event” while in Boston. The former secretary of defense is survived by his wife and two children.
Fox News noted that Carter’s family released a statement:
“It is with deep and profound sadness that the family of former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter shares that Secretary Carter passed away Monday evening in Boston after a sudden cardiac event at the age of 68.”
The family statement added:
“Carter, the 25th Secretary of Defense and Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School, devoted his professional life to the national security of the United States and teaching students about international affairs. He was a beloved husband, father, mentor, and friend. His sudden loss will be felt by all who knew him.”
Though Carter had a different focus for the military while serving under President Obama, he was complimentary of President Trump’s efforts to address complex issues in the Middle East — commenting on the effectiveness of Trump’s sanctions against Iran in 2019.
The Pentagon awarded Carter the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal five times throughout his career.
Carter will be remembered for saying:
“Americans who want to serve and can meet our standards should be afforded the opportunity to compete to do so,” Carter said in 2016. “Our mission is to defend this country, and we don’t want barriers unrelated to a person’s qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine who can best accomplish the mission.”
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