Michael C. Stenger

Michael C. Stenger
41st Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
In office
April 16, 2018 – January 7, 2021
LeaderMitch McConnell
Preceded byFrank J. Larkin
Succeeded byJennifer Hemingway (acting)
Personal details
Born
Michael Conrad Stenger

(1950-07-11)July 11, 1950
DiedJune 27, 2022(2022-06-27) (aged 71)
SpouseJanet Oechsner
Children2
EducationFairleigh Dickinson University (BA)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1972–1976
RankCaptain

Michael Conrad Stenger (July 11, 1950 – June 27, 2022)[1] was an American law enforcement officer who served as the 41st Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate from April 16, 2018, to January 7, 2021.

Early life and career

Stenger was a native of Wood-Ridge, New Jersey. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was a captain in the United States Marine Corps before joining the United States Secret Service.[2][3]

Career

Stenger spent 35 years in the Secret Service and served stints as Assistant Director for the Office of Investigations and the Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Research. In 2008, he became Assistant Director for the USSS Office of Government and Public Affairs, which coordinated with groups that included the United States Congress. In 2011, he joined the office of the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate as Assistant Sergeant at Arms for the Office of Protective Services and Continuity, became Deputy Sergeant at Arms in May 2014, and Chief of Staff for the Sergeant at Arms in January 2015.[4]

On April 16, 2018, after Sergeant at Arms Frank J. Larkin retired, Michael C. Stenger was nominated as the 41st Sergeant at Arms under Senate Resolution 465, put forth by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. This resolution was submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by unanimous consent.[5][6]

Responding to the 2021 Capitol attack

On January 6, 2021, for more than an hour during the storming of the Capitol that resulted in harm to the Congress, the Capitol, and the process of accepting and counting the votes of the Electoral College, Stenger and House Sergeant-at-arms Paul Irving (members of the Capitol Police Board) repeatedly refused to request the assistance of the D.C. National Guard.[7] The following day, he resigned as the Senate sergeant-at-arms,[8][9][10] with his deputy Jennifer Hemingway taking over on an interim basis.[11][12] The two other top Capitol security officials—House sergeant-at-arms Paul D. Irving and United States Capitol Police chief Steven Sund—also resigned on the same day, amid bipartisan shock and outrage over security lapses that led to the mob's breach and occupation of the Capitol.[10]

Personal life and death

Stenger was married to the former Janet Oechsner, and they had two children.[1] He died from unrevealed causes on June 27, 2022, at the age of 71.[3][13][14]

References

  1. ^ a b Sandomir, Richard (June 29, 2022). "Michael Stenger, Ousted Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, Dies at 71 of unrevealed causes". The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Wildstein, David (June 29, 2022). "New Jerseyan Michael Stenger, Senate sergeant-arms-on January 6, dies at 71 of unrevealed causes". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Tsirkin, Julie (June 29, 2022). "Former Senate security chief dies; death not considered suspicious". NBCNews.com. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  4. ^ "Sergeant at Arms Michael C. Stenger". United States Senate. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Stenger to Serve as Sergeant at Arms". U.S. Senate. April 16, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  6. ^ McConnell, Mitch (April 16, 2018). "S.Res.465 – 115th Congress (2017–2018): A resolution electing Michael C. Stenger as Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate". Congress.gov. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  7. ^ Broadwater, Luke; Cochrane, Emily; Goldman, Adam (January 26, 2021). "Capitol Police chief apologizes for security failures during the assault, including a delay in calling for Guard troops". New York Times.
  8. ^ Cochrane, Emily (January 7, 2021). "Senate sergeant-at-arms resigns following House's top security official stepping down". New York Times.
  9. ^ Everett, Burgess; Caygle, Heather (January 7, 2021). "Top Capitol security officials sacked after deadly riot". POLITICO.
  10. ^ a b Carney, Jordain (January 7, 2021). "McConnell ousts Senate sergeant-at-arms after Capitol riots". The Hill. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  11. ^ Everett, Burgess; Caygle, Heather (January 7, 2021). "Top Capitol security officials sacked after deadly riot". POLITICO. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Leonard, Ben (June 5, 2021). "Senate sergeant at arms: More concerned about cyberattack than Jan. 6 repeat". POLITICO. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  13. ^ Balsamo, Michael; Tulip, Sofia (June 29, 2022). "US Senate sergeant-at-arms during Capitol riot dies at 71". Associated Press. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  14. ^ "Michael Stenger: Everything we know about the late former Senate security chief". The Independent. June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
Government offices
Preceded by 41st Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
2018–2021 		Succeeded by