Ashton Carter, the former secretary of defense who put particular focus on the rights of transgender soldiers, died Monday at age 68 at his home in Boston.
"It is with deep and profound sadness that the family of former Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter shares that Secretary Carter passed away Monday evening in Boston after a sudden cardiac event at the age of 68," Carter's family said in a statement. "[He] devoted his professional life to the national security of the United States and teaching students about international affairs. He was a beloved husband, father, mentor, and friend. His sudden loss will be felt by all who knew him."
Among Carter's most significant initiatives as secretary of defense were his pushes for greater inclusivity in the U.S. Armed Forces. In December 2015, Carter announced that all military roles would be open for women to serve.
"This means that as long as they qualify and meet the standards, women will be able to contribute to our mission in ways they could not before," Carter said at the time. "There will be no exceptions... They'll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars, and lead infantry soldiers into combat. They'll be able to serve as army rangers in green berets, navy seals, infantry, air force parajumpers, and everything else that was previously open only to men."
In June 2016, Carter made another significant move, ending the military's ban on transgender Americans serving openly. It was among the last bans on service still in effect.
"Our mission is to defend this country, and we don't want barriers unrelated to a person's qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine who can best accomplish the mission," Carter said.
The end of the ban on transgender people serving in the military stayed in effect for roughly a year, with former President Donald Trump reinstating it in the first year of his term. The ban was lifted again by President Joe Biden on his first day in office via executive order.
Carter, born September 24, 1954, in Philadelphia, began his career studying theoretical physics before making the transition to politics. In 1984, he joined Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and was eventually made faculty chair for the International & Global Affairs department. From 1993 to 1996, he served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs under former President Bill Clinton.
Carter returned to Washington during President Barack Obama's administration, serving as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment from April 2009 to October 2011, and then as Deputy Secretary of Defense until December 2013. He was appointed Secretary of State in February 2015, replacing Chuck Hagel and serving through the remainder of Obama's second term.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment.
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