Trump picks Florida Panthers owner as Army secretary

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2013 file photo, Vincent Viola talks to the media about the future of the Florida Panthers during a press conference in Sunrise, Fla. President-elect Donald J. Trump has picked Viola as secretary of the Army. Viola is the founder of several businesses, including Virtu Financial, an electronic trading firm, and owns the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers. He is a past chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter) FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2013 file photo, Vincent Viola talks to the media about the future of the Florida Panthers during a press conference in Sunrise, Fla. President-elect Donald J. Trump has picked Viola as secretary of the Army. Viola is the founder of several businesses, including Virtu Financial, an electronic trading firm, and owns the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers. He is a past chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

By Associated Press December 19, 2016 2 min read

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) – President-elect Donald Trump chose Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola on Monday to serve as Army secretary.

Viola, a 1977 West Point graduate who bought the Panthers in 2013, will need to be confirmed by the Senate. If that happens, then – pending NHL approval – ownership of the Panthers would remain in the Viola family and his roles as chairman and governor of the club would be filled by Doug Cifu.

He would become the Army’s top civilian official.

“It is an honor to be nominated to serve our country,” Viola said.

Trump called Viola “an incredibly accomplished and selfless individual.”