Michael Flynn Out: 3 Possible Replacements For National Security Adviser

A search for Gen. Michael Flynn's replacement is underway after he resigned his position of national security adviser following reports about his communications with Russia during the presidential transition.

Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg Jr. is serving as acting national security adviser until President Trump names a new permanent head of security.

The New York Times reported that at least three names are under consideration to be Flynn's replacement. Here's a look at all three.

SEE ALSO: Michael Flynn, National Security Adviser, Resigns Over Russia Contacts

Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg Jr.

The Times, citing "administration officials," said that Kellogg becoming the permanent national security adviser is "unlikely" but said he is "being discussed."

Kellogg has been a close military adviser to Trump, joining his campaign as a foreign policy adviser in March 2016 and heading up the defense portion of the presidential transition after the election.

Kellogg fought in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division and ascended to the rank of lieutenant general in the Army during a 36-year military career.

David Petraeus

After leading U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Petraeus served as head of the CIA under President Obama for a little more than a year.

He resigned after his extramarital affair triggered an FBI investigation into his handling of classified information. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge after he shared classified information with his mistress.

Petraeus is on probation through April 23.

His appointment to be national security adviser would be extraordinary after Trump's repeated attacks on the campaign trail against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server to conduct State Department business. Trump had said Clinton should go to jail for compromising classified materials.

Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward

Harward is a retired Navy SEAL who served as deputy commander of the United States Central Command under Gen. James Mattis, Trump's current secretary of Defense. Harward is the "leading candidate" to be Flynn's replacement, according to the Times.

In 2013, he wrote an op-ed in the Huffington Post arguing for stronger education for women and girls across the globe.

"If we think it’s acceptable to give only half our population opportunity, then we will reach only half of our potential," Harward wrote. "In this day and age, this shouldn’t be a fight at all — for anyone."

Image via Gage Skidmore, Flickr, used under Creative Commons