west palm beach fla./washington u.s. president donald trump monday name lieutenant general herbert raymond mcmaster new national security adviser choose military officer know speak mind challenge superiors mcmaster highly regard military tactician strategic thinker selection surprise observers wonder officer whose army career stall time question authority would deal white house welcome criticism highly respect everybody military honor trump tell reporters west palm beach spend weekend man tremendous talent tremendous experience one subject trump mcmaster could soon differ russia mcmaster share consensus view among u.s. national security establishment russia threat antagonist unite state man mcmaster replace retire lieutenant general michael flynn appear view potential geopolitical partner trump past express willingness engage russia predecessor barack obama flynn fire national security adviser feb. 13 report emerge mislead vice president mike pence speak russia ambassador unite state u.s. sanction trump inauguration ouster come early trump administration another upset white house hit miscues include controversial rollout travel ban people seven muslim-majority countries since republican president take office jan. 20. national security adviser independent aide president require confirmation u.s. senate broad influence foreign policy attend national security council meet along head state department department defense key security agencies republican senator john mccain chairman senate arm service committee frequent trump critic praise mcmaster outstanding choice give president trump great credit decision mccain say statement former u.s. ambassador russia obama michael mcfaul democrat praise mcmaster twitter terrific say mcmaster afraid question boss mcmaster fly back washington area florida trump air force one remain active military duty white house say trump also say keith kellogg retire u.s. army lieutenant general serve act national security adviser chief staff national security council john bolton former u.s. ambassador unite nations would ask serve administration another capacity trump say good number ideas must tell agree much trump say bolton serve republican president george w. bush administration kellogg bolton among contention trump spend long presidents day weekend consider options replace flynn first choice retire vice admiral robert harward turn job last week mcmaster 54 west point graduate know h.r ph.d. u.s. history university north carolina chapel hill list one time magazine 100 influential people 2014 partly willingness buck system combat veteran gain renown first gulf war award silver star command small troop u.s. 2nd armor cavalry regiment destroy much large iraqi republican guard force 1991 place call 73 easting map coordinate many consider big tank battle since world war two one fellow officer put refer trump inner circle aid speak condition anonymity trump white house republican guard may hard deal iraqis be iraqi republican guard elite military force oust dictator saddam hussein trump rely tight insular group advisers time appear compete political agendas senior adviser steve bannon assert influence take seat national security council mcmaster fame grow 1997 book dereliction duty criticize country military political leadership poor leadership vietnam war trump pick praise one president strong backers u.s. congress republican senator tom cotton call mcmaster one fine combat leaders generation also great strategic mind july 14 2014 interview columbus ledger-enquirer columbus georgia fort benning locate mcmaster base commander say people misunderstand army people think hey military everything super-hierarchical environment intolerable criticism people want frank assessments think opposite case ... commanders work want frank assessments want criticism feedback attitude always share superiors lead pass promotion brigadier general twice 2006 2007. mcmaster third last try general david petraeus one point also trump candidate list national security adviser return iraq head promotion board finally give mcmaster first general star colonel mcmaster commander 3rd armor cavalry regiment spring 2005 capture hold begin stabilize tal afar iraqi-syrian border city hold sunni extremists cross point syria iraq jihadists start al-qaeda mesopotamia abu musab al-zarqawi morph islamic state kill mcmaster preparation regiment legendary train soldier iraqi culture differences among sunnis shi ites turkomen read book history region counterinsurgency strategy sharp change kill capture tactics unite state use iraq since invasion march 2003 obama administration return afghanistan iraq syria strategy largely success although mcmaster use especially willingness acknowledge iraqis legitimate grievances one another occupy coalition force endear superiors help delay promotion brigadier general strategy survive departure mcmaster troop tal afar fall hand sunni militants along west part mosul key objective battle rid iraq islamic state story correct kellogg rank retire lieutenant general paragraph 14 correct headline reflect mcmaster lieutenant general outspoken lieutenant general name trump 's top security adviser