Pentagon chief plans to appoint retiring Marine officer to top defence post

U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth is preparing to bring Marine Corps Col. Ricky Buria into his inner circle as a senior adviser — and possibly even as chief or deputy chief of staff — according to two individuals familiar with the matter.

Buria, who most recently served as Hegseth’s junior military assistant, unexpectedly submitted paperwork to leave the Marine Corps last week and is now officially on “terminal leave,” marking his transition out of active service. His sudden departure has raised eyebrows in defence circles, particularly given the timing and potential political overtones of his next move, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Washington Post.

Promoted to colonel only last fall, Buria has not held the rank long enough to retire at that grade without a special waiver. Under standard rules, service members must serve satisfactorily at a given rank for two years to retire at that pay grade and receive associated benefits. Without such a waiver, Buria is expected to retire as a lieutenant colonel.

The potential appointment comes as Hegseth seeks to reshape the Pentagon leadership team amid mounting tensions. Politico earlier reported that Hegseth intends to remove current Defense Secretary's Chief of Staff, Joe Kasper, following internal disagreements and friction within the department’s top ranks.

While Buria is regarded as a loyal aide to Hegseth, some within Trump's political orbit have expressed reservations. One source questioned Buria’s suitability for such a senior civilian role, noting his earlier service as a junior military aide to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin under the Biden administration.

Although military officers often serve across administrations in nonpartisan capacities, it remains unclear whether the White House would approve Buria’s appointment in a future Trump-aligned Pentagon.

By Khagan Isayev