Reince Priebus Joins The Navy

Former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus is officially in the U.S. Navy.

He was commissioned as an ensign, or junior officer, in a Monday ceremony officiated by Vice President Mike Pence. Since Priebus is a Michigan native, Republicans Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Bryan Steil both attended. Sean Spicer, a Navy reserve officer who overlapped with Priebus in the White House while serving as press secretary, was also in attendance.

Priebus, 47, is expected to serve as a human resources officer, reported The Hill.

Priebus applied to join the Navy as a reserve officer months ago, The Washington Post reported in December 2018. The former Republican National Committee chair was motivated to join up after an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump and the family of a slain Navy SEAL William Owens.

“At that moment, the gravity of every action we take in the West Wing rushed down upon my shoulders,” Priebus said, according to WaPo. “Everything suddenly became extremely real and raw. As some time passed, a few other senior aides joined me in the Cabinet Room and we discussed the consequences, harsh realities and weight of what we do every day.”

Priebus received a recommendation from then-Defense Sec. James Mattis for his application.

Priebus departed Trump’s White House in summer 2017 and was replaced by John Kelly, a retired U.S. Marine Corps general.