Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Wednesday he was committed to an orderly transition to the next commander in chief, President-elect Donald Trump.
“Last night our fellow American citizens voted for a new President. That it happened freely and peacefully is a testament to the great work of this Department,” Carter wrote in a memorandum to Defense Department employees.
{mosads}”I am very proud of the way each and every one of you conducted yourselves during this campaign, standing apart from politics and instead focusing on our sacred mission of providing security,” Carter continued.
“I am committed to overseeing the orderly transition to the next Commander in Chief. I know I can count on you to execute all your duties with the excellence our citizens know they can expect,” he wrote.
Polls taken during the campaign season had showed that military veterans preferred Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, although a small portion showed support for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.
Carter had studiously avoided commenting on the election in an attempt to keep the Pentagon out of politics and maintain the military’s impartiality.
In his memo Wednesday, Carter urged U.S. troops to stay focused in order to meet any “challenges” that could arise during the transition from the Obama administration to the Trump administration.
“I am mindful every moment of the day that you are carrying out your weighty mission in each and every time zone of the globe. May God continue to bless all of you and your families. And may God continue to bless the United States of America,” he said.