Obama appoints first openly gay man to lead the US Army

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has appointed Eric Fanning as the next secretary of the Army, the White House said on Friday, paving the way for the inauguration of the first man openly gay to lead an Armed Forces in history US.

Fanning currently holds the position of Assistant Secretary of the Army and previously served as Under Secretary of the Air Force and chief of staff to US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. His appointment to the position must still be confirmed by the US Senate.

"Eric brings years of proven experience and outstanding leadership to his new role," Obama said in a statement. "I am confident that he will help lead the US military with distinction."

Advocacy groups said that the appointment of an openly gay man to lead one of the military is a significant sign of progress in protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people working in the largest military force in the world.

The Pentagon has updated its equal opportunities policy in June 2015 to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, change announced by Carter during a celebration of gay and lesbian pride.