NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel held a live town hall at the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) on the Defense Department's role in national security, Sept. 3.
<p>Jim Sciutto, chief national security correspondent for CNN, moderated the discussion, which included questions and answers from students, faculty and staff in attendance.
</p><p>Hagel joined the U.S. Army and volunteered to go to Vietnam, rising to the rank of sergeant and earning numerous military decorations including two Purple Hearts.
</p><p>In 1981, Hagel served as deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration. In 1996, he was elected to the U.S. Senate from Nebraska and served until 2009. Hagel became the 24th secretary of defense in February 2013.
</p>
After leaving Rhode Island, Hagel joined President Barack Obama at the NATO Summit in Wales.
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