Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has reportedly approved Naval Academy graduate Cameron Kinley’s request to delay his active duty service to pursue professional football.
Fox News Pentagon correspondent Lucas Tomlinson broke the news via Twitter, citing sources. According to Tomlinson, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby is expected to make the official announcement later this afternoon.
Kinley, who is back at the academy serving on temporary assignment duty, was unavailable for comment when contacted by The Capital.
However, acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker announced in early June that he denied Kinley’s request to delay his military commitment and ordered him to begin serving as an ensign.