Former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter died of cardiac arrest Tuesday at age 68, his family confirmed in a statement:
It is with deep and profound sadness that the family of former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter shares that Secretary Carter passed away Monday evening in Boston after a sudden cardiac event at the age of 68. Carter, the 25th Secretary of Defense and Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School, 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.
Barack Obama appointed Carter as secretary of defense in 2014. As head of the Pentagon, he was the first secretary of defense to confront the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Middle East. Previously, he served as undersecretary of defense between 2011 and 2013.
For his service to the United States, Carter received the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the highest decoration, on five separate occasions. In addition, he was awarded the Defense Intelligence Medal and the Joint Distinguished Service Medal of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
