U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., has offered his support for Sean Parnell as chatter continues that he could be a candidate to lead the U.S. Army.
“There have been a lot of stories of late about @SeanParnellUSA being considered to be our next Secretary of the Army,” McCormick wrote Thursday on social media. “I hope it’s true.”
Parnell, a combat veteran who serves as a senior advisor and assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs, is a native of western Pennsylvania.
“Sean is a good friend, a decorated combat veteran, a true patriot, and a fellow Pennsylvanian. As I said when he joined the Trump administration, Dina and I are very proud of him and Melanie and their great family,” McCormick wrote. “I have full confidence that if Sean is given the honor of serving in this role, he will do so with courage and distinction.”
Reports first surfaced a few weeks ago that Parnell could be selected to lead the Army as Sec. Dan Driscoll’s future in the position was in question. Driscoll’s final day serving as the secretary of the U.S. Army was on Sept. 2. One day later, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told people close to him that Parnell would be his top choice to serve as the secretary of the Army, according to CBS News.
Parnell was previously a candidate for two different offices in Pennsylvania.
He was the Republican Party nominee for Pennsylvania’s 17th U.S. House District in 2020, but narrowly lost to incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb.
The following year, Parnell announced his intentions to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. Trump endorsed his candidacy early on, however, Parnell dropped out of the race after losing a court battle over the custody of several of his children in 2021.
McCormick also joined the 2022 race for the U.S. Senate, but narrowly lost the GOP nomination to Mehmet Oz, who was backed by Trump.
Published reports said Parnell’s wife accused him of rage and abuse; he disputed the reports.
The Pentagon recently told The Center Square that the judge who originally granted Parnell’s ex-wife custody in 2021 has reversed his position. The Pentagon said the original order was vacated and they have had shared custody for several years.
Trump announced Parnell’s nomination as the chief Pentagon spokesman for his administration just a few weeks after he was sworn in for a second term.
Parnell said he was honored to be selected for that position.
“I must emphasize that I am the leader I am today because of the incredible soldiers I served with in Afghanistan,” Parnell wrote on social media in February 2025. “Their bravery, dedication, courage and sacrifice have shaped me profoundly. I am alive today because of them.”
“I accept this position with great humility, recognizing that we are all standing on the shoulders of giants – those warriors who came before us, who sacrificed so much on behalf of a grateful nation,” he continued. “I also want to thank my wonderful wife, Melanie, and our five incredible children for their unwavering support and love. This achievement is as much theirs as it is mine. Time to get to work!”
According to CBS News, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will lead the process to name the next Secretary of the Army.
On Sept. 3, Trump named Adam Telle, a civilian leader in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as the acting Army secretary. NBC News reported Driscoll’s departure was amid reports of tensions with Hegseth.
Hegseth’s allies in the Pentagon, according to Politico, are advocating for Parnell to be nominated to serve as the next secretary of the Army, describing him as a “loyalist” to the secretary of war.
However, recent reports question if Parnell could be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
On Friday, The Washington Sun reported that GOP senators said they don’t see a path to confirmation for Parnell, citing Parnell’s abuse allegations that have since been dismissed, according to the Pentagon, and his role in implementing Hegseth’s restrictions on the Pentagon press corps.