A GW alumnus was chosen to serve as the acting defense secretary Tuesday, USA Today reported.

Mark Esper, who earned a doctorate in public policy from GW in 2008, was appointed by President Donald Trump to the post after former acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan withdrew from the confirmation process following accusations of family violence. Esper has served as secretary of the Army since November 2017.

“I thank Pat for his outstanding service and will be naming secretary of the Army, Mark Esper, to be the new Acting Secretary of Defense,” Trump said in a Tweet. “I know Mark, and have no doubt he will do a fantastic job.”

Before finishing his dissertation at GW in 2008, Esper graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1986 joined the Regular Army until 2007. He also graduated from Harvard University in 1995 and has held positions on Capitol Hill and the Pentagon before becoming secretary of the Army.