[b]Name:[/b] Abraham Randolph Farran
[b]Position:[/b] Secretary of Defense
[b]Age:[/b] 66
[b]Sex:[/b] Male
[b]Physical Description:[/b]
[hider=Likeness]
[img]http://www.gwpda.org/photos/coppermine/albums/uploads/0203.jpg[/img][/hider]
[indent]Abraham Farran is an individual with a more elongated stature and leaner build, standing at about 5’11”. He often wears suits of black with dark colored ties, a precedent set mainly by previous SecDefs, with a SecDef sterling silver lapel pin on his right lapel and a US flag pin on his left lapel. His hair is a wiry light grey, most likely previously blonde, and his eyes are dark blue.[/indent]


[b]Brief Bio:[/b]
[indent]He was born Nov. 16, 1954 in Alcoa, TN, going on to achieve the equivalent to a secondary education before making the decision to attend VMI in Virginia. Halfway into his degree, he was nominated to West Point, eventually graduating with honors in the class of 1978, being awarded a degree in Military History and in National Security Studies, additionally having achieved the qualifications to receive the Air Assault Badge and the Airborne Badge, qualifying him to be in either of the airborne divisions of the US Army.

He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in late 1978. As an infantry officer, he participated in maneuvers with allies in both Europe and Africa throughout the 80s, achieving a promotion to Captain within the decade. As part of the 101st Airborne element deployed in Kuwait in 1991, he led his company in the operation to cut off the supply lines and stop the retreat of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, forcing their capture, earning him the rank of Major. Later within the 90s, he helped orchestrate humanitarian missions in the Balkans, Africa, and the Caribbean, as well as being part of the NATO forces in Kosovo ensuring security during the elections. For his efforts, and the retirement of an upper echelon commander, he made Lieutenant Colonel.

After the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, his regimental commander was promoted, giving him command of the entire regiment and the rank of Colonel. His unit in the 101st was deployed in the ISAF invasion of Afghanistan, with the division being one of the first non-SF units deployed. Later in 2003, his regiment was part of the spearhead force into Iraq. After the fall of Baghdad and the sense of somewhat stability, the 101st was rotated back in and Abraham made Brigadier General, transferring to the staff at Fort Bragg, NC, where he would eventually make Major General and then Lieutenant General, assuming multiple positions within the XVIII Airborne Corps, eventually coming to command it.

He retired from the US Army in 2012, a year later taking an advisory position in General Dynamics, making connections with multiple companies in the military industrial complex. In 2021, he was offered a position in AJ Shepard’s administration as Secretary of Defense due to his knowledge concerning combat situations, national security, and the workings of the military industrial complex.[/indent]

[hider=Detailed Bio]
[indent]Abraham Randolph Farran was born November 16, 1954 in Alcoa, TN to Kenneth Farran and Helen Farran. His father was a former US Army Air Corps bomber crewman who then worked as a forge operator for the Aluminum Company of America (now Alcoa, for which the town is named), and his mother was a secretary for Alcoa’s campus offices, though despite the lower middle class upbringing, the economic conditions in the Tennessee Valley ensured Abraham did not grow up with a TV set, but an ear for the radio and an eye for literature.

He attended the Alcoa School (now three separate schools), earning the equivalent of a secondary education before considering his career. With the war in Vietnam drawing to a close, and the military life being highly televised, Abraham made his desire to enlist clear, much to the disdain of his veteran father. To placate concerns, he agreed to instead seek a career by way of officer, being admitted to the Virginia Military Institute in 1972. He attended the school for two years with primarily academic honors before being nominated to the US Military Academy at West Point starting in 1974.

While at West Point, Abraham excelled in the academics field, especially in his chosen major of history, and his chosen minor of national security studies. During his training, he excelled in his field maneuver training his second year, and went on to be permitted to attend the US Army Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, KY his third summer, and the US Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA his fourth and final summer, receiving both his air assault wings and jump wings and earning himself a position as an officer within the 101st Airborne on graduation. He graduated with honors part of the class of 1978.

Becoming an infantry platoon leader in 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, he served in multiple training maneuvers with NATO and UN allies, primarily in Egypt and Germany, throughout the entirety of the 80s without incident. Promoted to first lieutenant, then captain, and on the cusp of major, he had just past his first decade of service. However, the Gulf War began just before his orders went through. He led his company as part of the 2,000 man element of the 101st Airborne which crossed into Kuwait in January 1991 to cut off the Iraqi supply lines by way of Highway 80 and the connected Highway 8, the six-lane route which would become known as the Highway of Death due to 2,000-2,500 vehicles of enemy origin being surrendered or destroyed in the 100 hours that the operation lasted.

Abraham received his promotion at the conclusion of the operation, and would remain as executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 502nd PIR as the 101st remained within the Iraqi sphere. Soon redeployed, Abraham would have a hand in planning and supplying humanitarian and peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Haiti throughout the rest of the 90s. He made Lieutenant Colonel in 1995, receiving command of the entire 2nd Battalion, 502nd PIR.

Deployed to Kosovo with other units of the 101st, he helped maintain the sovereignty and stability of an independent Kosovo whilst they underwent their first election cycle in 2000. He was commended for his efforts as the unit withdrew back to the United States. A year later, on September 11th, 2001, the World Trade Center in New York City was attacked, filling Abraham with disgust as he and his unit were put on standby. As the Colonel above him was moved up an echelon to become brigade commander, he received a surprising promotion to Colonel, given the entire 502nd PIR.

The 101st, including his 502nd PIR, would be one of the first non-SF US units to cross into Afghanistan as part of ISAF. Participating in initial establishment of FOBs, they were the springboard into Operation Anaconda, shattering the open hold on the region by the Taliban. The entire 101st was retasked in early 2003 to Kuwait, before being part of the tip of the spear into Iraq, going directly for Baghdad. Surrounding Najaf along with elements of the 3rd Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division, with support from RAF strike craft, the 502nd formed an infantry screen to guard the “Thunder Run” (a large armored push) of the 1st Armored’s 70th Armored Rgt. which eventually caused the city to fall, with other assets of the 101st blocking the escape along the highway to Baghdad.

Airmobile assets of the 101st, including a company of the 502nd PIR, pushed into Baghdad as the 3rd Infantry Division, 1st Marine Division, and 1st Armored Division all executed the largest “Thunder Run” of the war, in which Baghdad fell in only nine days, finally being cleared on April 12, 2003. As Major General David Petraeus was promoted the following year, and the Brigadier General billet above him was open, he was briefly promoted to command the entire 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne before the unit rotated in for an extended stay in the US. He made Major General the following year and was transferred to the staff of the Garrison Command, Fort Bragg, NC, becoming commander of the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security of Fort Bragg, where, despite his disdain for a non-combat position, he excelled at management.

In 2007, he became Deputy Commander, XVIII Airborne Corps, remaining at Fort Bragg, before eventually replacing the retiring Lt. Gen. John R. Vines as Commander, XVIII Airborne Corps. He remained in the position until 2012, when he retired and was eventually hired by General Dynamics in an advisory position for an undisclosed six-figure salary, where he worked until 2021, when, in light of his recent combat experience, extensive national security knowledge, and connections with companies in the military industrial complex, he was offered the position of Secretary of Defense under AJ Shepard’s administration.[/indent] [/hider]


[b]Issues/Agenda:[/b]
[indent]Abraham often did not make his political views clear, especially when serving. But as his name has reached headlines as the newest nomination for Secretary of Defense, more and more has been revealed. He’s a conservative and a Republican at heart, generally a moderate on most issues save national security, where he suggests a level of caution. He generally has been opposed to the drawdown of troops abroad under previous administrations which led to increased volatility in the Middle East region and vulnerability elsewhere, namely the removal of peacekeepers in Iraq, the decrease of advisors in Syria, the complete withdrawal of armored assets from Germany, and the stagnation of Pacific bases.

He is religious, albeit not fanatically, and is a member of the American Episcopal Church, the American sect of the Church of England (Anglican Church). He attends church every sunday, generally at the Washington National Cathedral, the seat of the Diocese of Washington, where he is active in the community and makes monthly donations.

Abraham is a diligent worker in his field. His overall interest in national security studies and management which have been with him since his days at VMI and West Point drive him to work harder and smarter to improve and simplify the management and allocation of assets within the US Armed Forces.[/indent]