Former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus was commissioned as a Naval reserve officer Monday morning.
The 47-year-old was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence as an ensign, an entry-level officer at the O-1 level.
According to The Washington Post, Priebus' path to joining the service took several months and included a recommendation from now-former Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Priebus and four other candidates were selected from a pool of 42 people to serve as officers by a board of Naval officers.
Priebus wrote on Twitter:
"Wonderful day – honored to be able to serve! #GoNavy !"
Joining Priebus at his swearing-in ceremony were former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and others.
Sen. Johnson congratulated Priebus by writing on Twitter:
"It was an honor and privilege to attend @Reince's naval commissioning ceremony this morning. Congratulations and thank you for your service Ensign Priebus!!!"
According to the Post, Priebus felt called to join the Navy because his sister served and his father taught at a Naval station years ago. More recently, Priebus said he was inspired to join after meeting with the family of a slain Navy SEAL in the Oval Office in 2017.
Priebus became chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin in 2007. Four years later, he began a six-year stint as chairman of the Republican National Committee — which ended when he joined the Trump administration on the day President Donald Trump was sworn in.
Priebus departed the Trump White House in late July 2017. He is currently the president and chief strategist of Michael Best Strategies, a law firm.
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