The Senate voted on Tuesday to confirm Mark Esper to be President Trump's next Pentagon chief, capping off a rollercoaster six months since former Defense Secretary James Mattis's resignation.
The confirmation of Esper makes him the first Senate-approved Defense secretary since late December.
The vote comes as the Trump administration juggles multiple foreign policy challenges, including growing tensions with Iran, talk of new sanctions against Turkey and lingering congressional pushback over the U.S.-Saudi relationship.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) praised Esper ahead of the vote, noting that a second Senate-confirmed Defense secretary is "beyond urgent."