The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) approved by voice vote Nov. 7 the nomination of Raytheon [RTN] executive Mark Esper to be Army secretary.

As part of that vote, the SASC also approved Joseph Kernan to be undersecretary of defense for intelligence, Robert Wilkie to be undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness and Guy Roberts to be assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs.

All four nominations now head to the full Senate for its consideration.