‘Celebrating Diversity’: Biden’s Army, Navy Nominees Pushed DEI Ideology While In Uniform
Army and Navy officials recently promoted by President Joe Biden pushed neo-Marxist ideology in the military, The Federalist has learned.
According to a Nov. 15 Pentagon press release, Biden promoted Army Cols. Peter L. Gilbert and Antwan L. Dunmyer to the rank of brigadier general. Gilbert served as commander of the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command at Fort Liberty (formerly known as Fort Bragg) in North Carolina, while Dunmyer served as the deputy commander of operations for the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
The Federalist has learned that both individuals have promoted ideas affiliated with so-called “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI), an offshoot of neo-Marxist ideology, in their capacities as military officials. As The Federalist previously reported, DEI is a poisonous left-wing framework that dismisses merit and instead discriminates based on characteristics such as skin color and sex.
In early 2021, Gilbert recorded a video message commemorating Black History Month that was posted to the 101st Division Sustainment Brigade’s Facebook page. The Army official served with the brigade from July 2020 to July 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile.
After recognizing the contributions of black Americans in the military throughout U.S. history, Gilbert touted how the 101st Division Sustainment Brigade is “dedicated” to championing “diversity,” which he contended contributes to the force’s overall effectiveness.
“The 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade is dedicated to leveraging the strength of our diverse force, embracing and celebrating diversity, which makes us the [greatest] fighting force the world has ever seen,” Gilbert said.
Dunmyer has his own apparent infatuation with identity-based politics. In June 2022, the Army official spoke at an LGBT “pride month” event commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. The 1969 riots by LGBT activists came in response to a police raid on a New York City gay bar that led to the arrest of several patrons.
According to an Army press release, Dunmyer used his speech to celebrate “pride month,” which he claimed, as described in the presser, “is a time to come together to honor the contributions of the LGBTQ service members.”
“During the month of June, our Army commemorates the legacy of those who identify with the LGBTQ community and thank them for their dedicated service to the Army mission and to our nation,” Dunmyer said. “Our brothers and sister in arms have served with distinction and have fought bravely in defense of our great nation for many years — sometimes on the battlefield, other times on the homeland for equal rights. Today’s ceremony serves as an opportunity for us to honor them, and at the same time learn from them.”
Gilbert and Dunmyer’s promotions were confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on Nov. 21.
Military specialists have warned that the armed forces’ overzealous focus on “diversity” is hampering its ability to carry out and execute missions.
In September, the Claremont Institute’s Will Thibeau published a report detailing this problem, which has only gotten worse under the Biden-Harris administration. He specifically noted how the Pentagon has succumbed to “a dangerous ideology: that of group quotas, or forced outcome equality for identity groups based on race and sex.”
The aforementioned Army officials are hardly the only Biden nominees with a track record of promoting ideas associated with DEI, however.
Navy Capt. Omarr E. Tobias has also touted them in his capacity as the commanding officer of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) in Washington, D.C. Tobias was promoted by Biden to the rank of rear admiral (lower half) last month.
In August 2024, Tobias was featured in a NAVFAC video celebrating Women’s Equality Day. He was asked by NAVFAC Public Affairs Specialist Natasha Waldron Anthony “how diversity, particularly inclusion of women, has strengthened NAVFAC Washington’s mission and capabilities.”
“Well at NAVFAC Washington, women are a part of the very fabric of our command,” Tobias said. “We are successful because the talent of our professionals, including our women, carry us all the way. So, our success is based on the talent of our professionals, and women are integral to that.”
Anthony subsequently pressed the Navy captain on “what initiatives or changes” he’s implemented “to promote gender equality and create more opportunities for women within NAVFAC Washington” since becoming the facility’s commanding officer. Tobias responded by touting NAVFAC’s “focus” on fostering an “inclusive” culture, which he contended permits service members to reach their full potential.
“Our focus at NAVFAC Washington is to continue to build on our wonderful culture. And that culture is very inclusive,” Tobias said. “We want everyone to be able to reach their very apex. And to do that, you have to feel comfortable, you have to feel warm in your environment, and you have to feel like people are invested in your own well-being and success.”
Tobias also recorded a video message for NAVFAC recognizing Black History Month earlier this year. He claimed the commemorative month offers Americans the chance to “seize the opportunity to honor” what he referred to as “the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
The post was accompanied by a caption that reads in part, “In his message, Capt. Omarr Tobias, NAVFAC Washington commanding officer, reiterated the importance of inclusivity and respect.”
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
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