Mark Esper

“The international rules-based order in the wake of World War II is the order that has ensured prosperity and security now for 75 years. I'm fully committed to that.”

“It's my commitment to the nation's security, it's my commitment to the men and women in uniform that drives me. Not anything else.”

“We are extending basic training. It'll be the longest and toughest in the world.”

“You have to give the soldiers, the Army, a clear vision.”

“Child care is very important, so I want to put dollars there, and I want to make sure we get the policies right.”

“Our warfighting doctrine is that we don't want to be in a fair fight, and we want the fight to always be tilted in our favor.”

“I can't tell you what the Army end strength will be. I know it has to be above 500,000. I know it has to be above 500,000 in the regular Army - and I've always said associated growth in the Guard and Reserve.”

“I think the presumption is, for some reason, anybody who comes from the business or the corporate world is corrupt.”

“One of the key challenges the military has faced - and the Army, in particular - is defining our requirements and keeping them stable.”

“I think artificial intelligence will likely change the character of warfare, and I believe whoever masters it first will dominate on the battlefield for many, many, many years.”

“A collective security relies on everybody doing their fair share.”

“AI will allow the soldier to act and think much more quickly. Whoever gets to AI first, I believe, will have dominance for many years afterward.”

“The Army is a big mixing bowl, and we know that we wear one uniform. We identify with one set of Army values. We serve one Constitution, and we see ourselves as one team.”

“The surest way to deter adversary aggression is to fully prepare for war.”

“If you see something that doesn't make sense, ask. Change it. Think about dollars, think about your soldiers' time, think about efficiency.”

“I've stepped down from jobs that paid me well more than what I was working anywhere else. And each time, it was to serve the public good and to serve the young men and women of our armed services.”

“The Brits are escorting their ships, and we will escort our ships, and I assume other countries will escort their ships.”

“Seventeen consecutive years of irregular war, extended years of budget uncertainty, and an increasing complex security environment have eroded our competitive edge.”

“Clearly, we need a strong economy to build a strong military.”

“If Turkey procures the S-400, it will mean they will not receive the F-35. It's that simple.”