Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will visit the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) and hold a live town hall on the Defense Department’s role in national security Sept. 3 at 3 p.m.
Hagel joined the U.S. Army and volunteered to go to Vietnam, rising to the rank of sergeant and earning numerous military decorations including two Purple Hearts.
In 1981, Hagel served as deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration. In 1996, he was elected to the U.S. Senate from Nebraska and served until 2009. Hagel became the 24th secretary of defense in February 2013.
After leaving Rhode Island, Hagel will join President Barack Obama at the NATO Summit in Wales.