Michael C. Stenger

Michael C. Stenger is an American law enforcement officer who served as the 41st Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate from April 16, 2018, until his resignation after the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Michael C. Stenger
41st Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
In office April 16, 2018 – January 7, 2021
Preceded by	Frank J. Larkin
Succeeded by	Jennifer Hemingway (acting)
Personal details
Education	Fairleigh Dickinson University (BA)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps

Early life and career

Stenger graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was a captain in the United States Marine Corps before joining the United States Secret Service.

Career

Stenger spent 35 years in the Secret Service and served stints as Assistant Director for the Office of Investigations and the Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Research. In 2008, he became Assistant Director for the USSS Office of Government and Public Affairs, which coordinated with groups that included the United States Congress. In 2011, he joined the office of the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate as Assistant Sergeant at Arms for the Office of Protective Services and Continuity, became Deputy Sergeant at Arms in May 2014, and Chief of Staff for the Sergeant at Arms in January 2015.[1]

Sergeant at Arms

On April 16, 2018, after Sergeant at Arms Frank J. Larkin retired, Michael C. Stenger was nominated as the 41st Sergeant at Arms under Senate Resolution 465, put forth by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. This resolution was submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by unanimous consent.[2][3]

On January 6, 2021, for more than an hour during the violent storming of the Capitol, Stenger and two other members of the Capitol Review Board repeatedly refused to request the assistance of the National Guard, resulting in immeasurable physical and symbolic harm to the Congress, the Capitol, and a long tradition of peaceful transfer of power between U.S. Presidents.[4] He then resigned as the Senate sergeant-at-arms.[5] The two other top Capitol security officials—House sergeant-at-arms Paul D. Irving and Capitol Police chief Steven Sund—were ousted the same day, amid bipartisan shock and outrage over security lapses that led to the mob's breach and occupation of the Capitol.[5] Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Jennifer Hemingway was announced by Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell as the acting sergeant-at-arms.[5]

References

1. "Sergeant at Arms Michael C. Stenger". United States Senate. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
2. "Stenger to Serve as Sergeant at Arms". U.S. Senate. April 16, 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
3. Mitch, McConnell (April 16, 2018). "S.Res.465 – 115th Congress (2017–2018): A resolution electing Michael C. Stenger as Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate". Congress.gov. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
4. • Luke Broadwater, Emily Cochrane, and Adam Goldman Capitol Police chief apologizes for security failures during the assault, including a delay in calling for Guard troops., New York Times (January 26, 2021).
5. • Emily Cochrane, Senate sergeant-at-arms resigns following House's top security official stepping down., New York Times (January 7, 2021).
   • Burgess Everett & Heather Caygle, Top Capitol security officials sacked after deadly riot, Politico (January 7, 2021).
   • Carney, Jordain (January 7, 2021). "McConnell ousts Senate sergeant-at-arms after Capitol riots". The Hill. Retrieved January 7, 2021.

External links

• Senate profile
• Appearances on C-SPAN