Commission Special Advisor Senator John Warner honored at the Pentagon

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission

(L to R) Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Senator John Warner, Senator Carl LevinThe Department of Defense honored former senators John W. Warner (R-Virginia) and Carl Levin (D-Michigan) at the Pentagon. Levin and Warner are former chairmen of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter presented the two men with awards at the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes.

The two men were awarded the Medal for Distinguished Public Service which is the Department of Defense’s highest civilian honor. Carter also dedicated the Levin-Warner Legislative Affairs Suite in honor of the two senators.

Senator John Warner serves as a Special Advisor to the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission. In that capacity, he is involved with assisting the commission with their outreach to elected officials on the national level. He has long been an advocate for the U.S. military, and for our veterans. He is a former Secretary of the Navy, and personally served as a Navy enlisted sailor during World War II, and as an officer in the Marine Corps during the Korean War.

Secretary Carter explained that he awarded the two senators for their demonstration of bipartisan leadership during their time as chairmen. Carter also commended the two men for their support of an always-changing department, ensuring the US military advantage in challenges all over the world, and for their understanding the need for cooperation between the Congressional members.