Former Western PA Senate Candidate Gets Key Pentagon Post

WASHINGTON, DC — Sean Parnell, a Western Pennsylvania veteran best known for launching unsuccessful candidacies for the U.S. Senate and House, has been named the chief spokesperson for the Pentagon. Parnell also will serve as the assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.

President Donald Trump announced the move Monday night on his Truth Social page.

"A great American Patriot, Sean is a fearless combat veteran, who led one of the most decorated units in the Afghanistan War," Trump stated.

"He earned two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, while his platoon achieved an incredible record of eliminating over 350 enemy fighters. During my first term, Sean was also instrumental helping pass the MISSION ACT, the biggest VA reform in history."

Parnell was the Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in Pennsylvania's 17th District, but lost in a close race to Democrat Connor Lamb.

Parnell entered the race for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat in 2021 and was endorsed by Trump.But he suspended his campaign hours after losing a contentious child custody battle with his estranged wife.

Parnell thanked Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on social media.

"I accept this position with great humility, recognizing that we are all standing on the shoulders of giants—those warriors who came before us, who sacrificed so much on behalf of a grateful nation," he said in an X post.