Former Navy SEAL Carl Higbie was interviewed last Wednesday for the high-level position of assistant secretary of defense for public affairs at the Pentagon, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Higbie showed up to the Pentagon last week in a suit and tie for the interview, which follows on the heels of talks that he would join the White House communications team. At the time, a source told TheDCNF that Higbie was initially more interested in serving in either the State Department or Department of Defense, but was nevertheless moving forward with the White House opportunity.
Now, Higbie seems to be exploring the position of assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, a position that is sometimes combined with the role of Pentagon press secretary, depending on the president.
The Washington Examiner initially reported Friday that the position of Pentagon press secretary was going to retiring Army Col. Steve Warren, but according to a correction from Examiner reporter Jamie McIntyre, Warren is actually taking the job of principal deputy to the secretary of defense for public affairs, not Pentagon press secretary.
Higbie, who has been a stringent supporter of President Donald Trump and regular Fox News commentator, formerly served two tours of duty in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom — once under President George W. Bush and once under President Barack Obama.
In the past, Higbie has been critical of Obama’s reliance on air power and drone strikes, as opposed to boots on the ground, a plan which Trump intends to execute.
The Department of Defense press secretary Twitter has been dormant since Jan. 19.
A Pentagon spokesman told TheDCNF that it does not comment on personnel interviews.
Higbie did not respond to a request for comment from TheDCNF.
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