I like Pete for Secretary of Defense. Some might scoff at his McKinsey resume, but I like it for the position. Sure, there is a lot of bullshit in the consulting industry, but they keep making money for a reason. And, you know the DoD uses that type of analysis, so it would be good to have someone who knows what goes into the analysis to recognize flaws, misses, and bullshit. The DoD is one of our biggest annual costs, and if there is going to be any meaningful budget control, it will need to be approached from a business management approach. Since he was a consultant prior to his stint in the military, you know that's the lens he viewed his service. I bet he had a list of improvements to make before he ever went into politics. Unlike some SoD with military experience, his service is really recent - just six years ago. But, he is also very much a civilian. I don't see the point of having a general in the role. There are plenty of generals in the Pentagon that can provide that perspective. And, I think he is fully committed to getting us out of perpetual war, and he has the experience to challenge the obstacles to that goal that others may present.
The negative is that I think it would damage his career. You can't make meaningful changes without getting a lot hate thrown your way.