Sen. Cruz Introduces Department of War Nominee, Timothy Dill

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, distinguished members of the committee. It is great to be back before the mighty Senate Armed Services Committee. I greatly enjoyed the six years I served with you on this committee, and I'm very glad to be back. Today, I have the great privilege of introducing my friend and former military legislative assistant and national security advisor, Tim Dill, as President Trump's nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Tim was born in Grand Prairie, Texas, and although he grew up in Ohio, being a Texan is a permanent condition, and we proudly claim him. Only a small percentage of young Americans volunteer to serve in the Army, and of those who do, only 2 percent earn the Green Beret, and Tim is part of that elite group. He served 10 years on active duty as an Army officer in the Infantry and Special Forces, deploying in Afghanistan, Iraq, and multiple countries in Africa. During his service to our country, he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab, the Pathfinder Badge, and the distinction of Jumpmaster. After his time defending our nation, he attended Duke University, where he earned both his J.D. and N.B.A. and developed a terrible habit of rooting for Duke in basketball. Later, he joined my office as my military legislative assistant and national security advisor, where he served from December 2022 to January 2025. While on my staff, Tim worked tirelessly for a stronger military and a safer America. To ensure the lethality of our forces, he visited every active duty military installation in Texas and worked closely with service members and veterans to improve their care and treatment. Tim played a key role in numerous legislative initiatives, including the Americans Act, the Command Act, and the MEDL Act, as well as leading authorization for additional funding for Joint Task Force North to counter transnational criminal organizations along our southern border. Beyond his distinguished service, remarkable sacrifice, and leadership in the Army, Tim is a man of great character. He is a warrior and a true patriot. He is a proud husband to Andrea and the father of two, who you have been hearing from this morning. From leading soldiers in combat to shaping legislation that strengthens our national defense and security, Tim understands the weight of responsibility that comes with leadership. I know he will work every day to ensure our military remains ready to fight and win, and I'll tell you, on top of that, he actually has a decent postgame in basketball, which is a requirement for working in my office. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I cannot think of anyone more qualified, more prepared, more principled to lead this critical office in the Department of War. Tim served Texas service members and their families with dedication, and he will do the same for the 3 million American service members and their families. I strongly encourage you to support his nomination. Thank you.