Michael Duffey, Allison Hooker and Dale Marks Receive Senate Confirmation
The trio will serve in roles at the U.S. Departments of Defense and State.
The U.S. Senate today held recorded votes to confirm three individuals nominated by President Donald Trump to serve in the executive branch of government - specifically in the U.S. Departments of Defense and State.
In a 51-46 vote, Michael Duffey was confirmed as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. The position has been held by an acting official since January 2025, when William A. LaPlante Jr. resigned after serving since April 2022.
Duffey was nominated to this position by Trump in December 2024. During the first Trump administration, he served as Associate Director of National Security Programs in the Office of Management and Budget.
Duffey previously spent 14 years working at the Pentagon. During that time, he enjoyed stints as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense, the Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering, the White House Liaison, and the Deputy Director for Systems Analysis.
In a 59-36 vote, Allison Hooker was confirmed as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. The position has been held by two separate acting officials since March 2024, when Victoria Nuland resigned after serving since April 2021.
Hooker was nominated to this position by Trump in February 2025. She has spent 20 years as a foreign policy and national security specialist in the federal government - specializing on Asia.
From 2001 to 2014, Hooker was a Senior Analyst for North Korea in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. From 2015 to 2021, she served on the National Security Council as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asia. Since leaving the federal government, she has been Senior Vice President of American Global Strategies.
In a 72-26 vote, Dale Marks was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment. The position has been held by an acting official since January 2025, when Brendan Owens resigned after serving since January 2023.
Marks was nominated to this position by Trump in February 2025. He is currently the Executive Director of the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Marks’ military career includes 24 years in both active duty and national guard roles. His career also covered stints as Deputy Chief of Staff at Continental North American Aerospace Defense Command Region; Senior Environmental Consultant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy; and Deputy Director of Strategy, Plans, Programming, and Analysis for National Guard Bureau Space Operations.