If Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana is confirmed as secretary of the Interior Department, he would become the first former Navy SEAL to occupy a Cabinet position, according to several San Diego SEAL veterans with long memories.

President-elect Donald Trump’s team named Zinke on Tuesday as the nominee to run the U.S. agency that oversees federal lands and resources.

The retired SEAL officer and Iraq War veteran adds to a growing roster of recent military veterans among Trump’s picks for Cabinet and other top administration jobs.

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Retired Marine four-star Gen. James Mattis was tapped by the president-elect for the Defense Department. His fellow Marine Gen. John Kelly was chosen to lead Homeland Security. And retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn is Trump’s pick for national security adviser.

Trump’s choice of military officers is being cheered in some corners, especially among those who see Congress and the federal bureaucracy as undisciplined.

Critics have voiced concern about too much military influence on what’s meant to be a civilian-led government — especially in Trump’s choice of Mattis for defense. That nomination would require a congressional waiver to override a federal statute that requires a seven-year gap between active service and the top Pentagon job.

Zinke, 55, was the first Navy SEAL elected to the House when he won his Montana seat in 2014.


He got his naval commission in 1985 and joined the SEALs soon after, graduating from the Coronado training grounds and then assigned to Coronado’s SEAL Team 1. He retired in 2008 at the rank of commander.

Zinke is on a short list of SEAL veterans who have ascended to high government office.

Medal of Honor recipient Bob Kerrey, a Vietnam-era SEAL, served Nebraska as governor from 1983 to 1987 and then senator from 1989 to 2001.

Jesse Ventura served in Underwater Demolition Team 12, a precursor to modern-day SEALs, during Vietnam. Later, after a professional wrestling and acting career, he was elected governor of Minnesota in 1988 and served for one term.

Eric Greitens, who became a SEAL in 2002 and is still a Navy reservist, was elected governor of Missouri in November.

Scott Taylor, a 37-year-old former SEAL who served as a sniper in Iraq, was elected to the House of Representatives from Virginia in November.

The list doesn’t include any Cabinet positions in modern history — until, possibly, now.

Why haven’t more SEALs made it to top government office?


Retired Lt. Cmdr. Ed Hiner, a San Diego SEAL veteran who worked with Zinke for two years, said it has to do with the SEALs’ “quiet professional” persona for decades.

Post-9/11 SEALs are more comfortable talking about their service — as evidenced by the crop of books and movies by and involving SEAL vets in recent years.

“Now, I think it’s kind of their duty to continuing serving once they are out,” Hiner said.

Meanwhile, Hiner praised Zinke’s nomination for the Cabinet job.


“He’s a sensible guy. He’s used to taking complex problems and coming up with a simple solution,” the retired SEAL said.

“He was a combat leader in Iraq,” he added. “He’s not scared of making decisions.”

Zinke hasn’t yet spoken publicly about the nomination.

The Montana Republican touted his SEAL credentials in campaigning for the House. That invited criticism of his military record, which came — in part — from other SEAL veterans.


One retired Navy SEAL captain, Larry Bailey, wrote a widely circulated letter accusing Zinke of inflating his feats in his zeal for higher office.

At issue were Zinke’s comments that he was a commander at the so-called SEAL Team 6, now famous for the 2011 mission that killed Osama bin Laden.

It’s a technical point: Zinke had leadership roles at the fabled team, and he was a lieutenant commander at the time — a title often shortened to commander. But he was not the commanding officer, according to his own career description.

Also, Zinke’s Bronze Star medals don’t have the V device, signifying valor in combat, which would elevate the award in some people’s minds.


Also, there was a travel reimbursement issue that Zinke has since acknowledged. Bailey has contended that the alleged travel fraud was more widespread and effectively curtailed Zinke’s career in the SEALs.

Like Trump’s other Cabinet nominees, Zinke would have to be confirmed by the Senate.

Do you know of other Navy SEALs who went on to national-level office? If so, email me at jen.steele@sduniontribune.com.

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