By Guy Page

A St. Albans resident and former Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy says the media is making too much of President Donald Trump’s meeting personally with senior generals before their nomination.

Steve Deal, the guest of Common Sense Radio co-host and VDC editor Guy Page on today’s 11 AM public affairs program on WDEV (listen on radiovermont.com, AM 550, FM 96.1, call in at 802-244-1777), questions the angle of the July 30 AP news story headlined “Trump, in another break from the norm, interviews 4-star general candidates.”

“This is yet another example of the media stirring up unease and doubt, when the reality is quite different,” Deal told VDC this morning. “Biden famously spent very little time thinking about the military. His aides would bring decisions like this already made. It’s up to the public to consider, which model denotes leadership?  

“Other Presidents have engaged with potential senior leaders before nominating them.   JFK knew Maxwell Taylor very well before nominating him to be Chairman (out of retirement!).  Bobby Kennedy names a son after him, Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, still alive today.  President Obama knew GEN Jim Cartwright extremely well on a personal level.  Many other examples. 

“This is the first President who was a billionaire businessman with no prior experience in government.  In business he is used to calling people who are going to run things and asking questions, getting to know them,” Deal said. 

The story has Vermont ramifications. As reported by VDC, Vermont native and Air Force General Thomas Bussiere has been nominated by Trump as the Vice-Chief of Staff, the #2 post in the Air Force. The nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate. 

Deal and Page also plan to discuss the impact of the newly-passed state tax breaks for military retirees and the role of public education in preparing young people for military service. A spokesperson for Norwich University is expected to call in to the show as well.

Deal served over 27 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator, retiring at the rank of Captain (O-6). He rose through the ranks as a P-3C instructor pilot and mission commander, with eight global deployments and over 3,000 flight hours. He commanded three operational units ranging in size from 125 to 2,500 in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Washington State, earning the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and multiple other awards. 

After retirement, he was named a member of the Senior Executive Service, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy and Deputy Chief Learning Officer for the Department of the Navy. Steve led multiple Service-wide education and talent management initiatives, including the creation of the U.S. Naval Community College for enlisted Marines and Sailors. He is married to a native Vermonter and former Navy nurse who currently serves in their adopted hometown of St. Albans. They are proud parents of two adult children.