washington democratic u.s. presidential candidate hillary clinton campaign vet retire navy admiral jam stavridis potential vice presidential run mate source knowledge process tell reuters tuesday stavridis dean fletcher school law diplomacy tufts university near boston former supreme ally commander nato admiral stavridis one fine military officer generation michele flournoy former secretary u.s. department defense tell reuters statement person great ability integrity exceptional leader talents experience judgment temperament serve american people high level government clinton campaign decline comment vet stavridis stavridis likewise decline comment process flournoy form think tank leave defense department advise clinton campaign foreign policy also comment vet process flournoy think probable clinton pick defense secretary presumptive democratic nominee win white house nov. 8. stavridis clinton work closely together nato lead u.s. state department democratic president barack obama first term introduce clinton 2013 award dinner stavridis say work two 20 200 energy enthusiasm boundless determination improve world praise use smart power 2012 ted talk global security stavridis begin say thesis us today instead build wall create security need build bridge clinton use similar rhetoric role international diplomacy campaign trail stravidis senior military assistant former defense secretary donald rumsfeld george w. bush administration early years u.s. occupation iraq could provide presumptive republican presidential nominee donald trump line political attack trump throughout campaign criticize clinton u.s. senator vote favor 2003 u.s.-led invasion iraq trump express early concern operation cost another political millstone could 2012 defense department inspector general report say stavridis fail obtain prior authorization use government aircraft unofficial trip submit improper travel expense stavridis clear misconduct stavridis would bring military heft clinton presidential ticket trump consider michael flynn retire u.s. army lieutenant general former director defense intelligence agency spot flynn democrat nonetheless fiercely critical obama foreign policy would unconventional choice trump wealthy new york businessman formally vet former u.s. house representatives speaker newt gingrich new jersey governor chris christie indiana governor mike pence potential vice presidential pick say clinton short list u.s. senators elizabeth warren massachusetts tim kaine virginia accord news report clinton campaign alongside warren ohio last month set campaign kaine home state thursday campaign confirm either formally vet clinton vet retire u.s. navy admiral stavridis vp source