Deborah Loewer

Springfield native Rear Admiral (Ret.) Deborah Loewer, a 31-year Navy veteran and lifelong Republican, was director of the White House Situation Room from April 2001 to June 2003. The views expressed are hers and do not represent official positions of the U.S. military or government.

On Sept. 11, 2001, I was one of a small group of government officials who accompanied President Bush to an education event in Florida. At the time, I was serving as the director of the White House Situation Room. On that fateful day, I had the unenviable job of ensuring the commander in chief was briefed on details of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. I stood by the president’s side as he faced the most significant assault on our homeland in decades. He was focused, disciplined and determined in his immediate actions.

In the days and weeks that followed 9/11, I saw a president immersed in helping heal a country in crisis; his actions were thoughtful and measured; he absorbed the complexities of the presidency and listened attentively and carefully to his advisers.

I see these same personal traits – today – in Hillary Clinton.

At times of crisis – like 9/11 a decade and a half ago, or in the Middle East right now – our president has to be all those things and more. Clinton not only has a deep understanding of the immeasurable power of the presidency, but she also possesses the discretion and judgment to know how to use it. She knows that the United States is the most powerful country in the world, and that other countries look to us for leadership, example and guidance.

She knows what it takes to make those hard decisions that will inevitably face the next commander in chief. She is no stranger to the White House Situation Room. She’s been there, routinely. Most prominently, as secretary of state she was there – along with the nation’s other top national security and intelligence advisers – when President Obama gave U.S. forces the go-ahead to capture Osama Bin Laden.

Hillary Clinton knows the top priority of the presidency – to protect Americans at home and abroad. She knows how to collaborate across government agencies and with industry. She knows how to leverage a vast array of resources – using both hard- and soft-power tools – all the while being keenly aware that the world is watching and our enemies are listening.

My support of Clinton is derived from the hard lessons learned during my years of service to our country. I served as the military assistant to the secretary of defense at the Pentagon. I commanded the USS Camden, the USS Mount Baker and all of the U.S. Navy’s mine warfare assets. I deployed to every region on the globe – including the Persian Gulf and the Asia Pacific – in support of our nation’s security. I watched and listened and firmly believe Clinton understands not only how to deploy our forces, but also, how to bring them safely home when the mission is done.

As secretary of state, Clinton solved complex security challenges with deft diplomacy and unerring confidence. She flew on a moment's notice to the Middle East to help facilitate an important, time-sensitive negotiation there; she helped nations build governing structures based on American democracy; she demonstrated through her actions how much our allies are valued as partners and she strengthened our alliances – including the NATO alliance – which are critical to the security of the United States and the world.

In the coming election, the stakes could not be higher. Choosing the next president of the United States is a serious responsibility of all citizens. Standing on the sidelines, taking a pass on this election, is not an option. I must – we all must – choose the very best person to serve as our president on Nov. 8. As someone who directed the White House Situation Room for 26 of the most significant months in our nation’s recent history, I know the type of person it takes to live up to the demanding job of the presidency, and execute the duties of that office with strength, intelligence, thoroughness, discipline and compassion.

Hillary Clinton is that person.