Rhode Island

‘Proud moment’: Acting defense secretary grew up in RI, son of a retired Marine general

Published

1 year ago

January 25, 2025

‘Proud moment’: Acting defense secretary grew up in RI, son of a retired Marine general

John J. Salesses is a retired major general who appreciates knowing, on a basic level at least, what his four grownup children are up to.

So the 91-year-old Rhode Islander was aware that his second-oldest son, Robert G. Salesses, had reached a pay grade of GS-15 in his job at the Pentagon. That’s the highest pay grade available for federal employees.

Then, about a week ago, Salesses recalls, one of his other sons told him something interesting:

“Bob” was in line to serve as acting U.S. Secretary of Defense in the opening days of the second administration of President Donald J. Trump.

The magnitude of such a responsibility isn’t something that’s fuzzy to someone like Salesses, even at his advanced age.

The Warren retiree once directed the entire U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The reserve force has about 35,000 personnel serving all over the world, he says.

The much bigger job that his son took over on Inauguration Day left the younger Salesses with enormous responsibility at a moment of growing global instability.

Ukraine is being ravaged by the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, with Russian leaders raising the specter of nuclear war on occasion. An Iranian missile attack was part of a recent exchange between Iran and Israel this past fall. Barely a month ago, the largest armada of Chinese warships since the 1990s took to the waters of the South China Sea.

A short assignment?

As of Wednesday, Robert Salesses’ tenure wasn’t expected to be lengthy. Just until the U.S. Senate had confirmed Trump’s pick, either Pete Hegseth or someone else.

The father of the acting secretary, or “SECDEF,” as it’s known in bureaucratic jargon, afforded his son some space. There would be time for catching up later.

Raised in Barrington, exposed to Camp Lejeune

Robert G. Salesses was born in San Diego.

His mother, the late Dolores Ann “Lola” Salesses, and his father opted to raise their family in Barrington.

His father mostly worked the schedule of a Marine reservist. The elder Salesses tought English at Rhode Island College. He held administrative jobs as a dean and vice president for academic affairs.

He did not try to groom his sons for military life. But they were exposed to it during some of his reserve stints at Camp Lejeune.

Robert Salesses went to Rhode Island College and graduated in 1980. He worked in the private sector.

His younger brother, a future military pilot, decided one day that he would join the Marine Corps.

“Bob said, ‘I’m going to go, too,’” their father recalled on Friday.

In the Marines, he would participate in the 1991 liberation of Kuwait during the Gulf War, according to a biography posted online by the Department of Defense.

Some of Robert Salesses’ other jobs in the Marines involved carrying out the withdrawal of critical nuclear stockpiles from former Soviet States, development of multinational counternarcotics policies with Central and South American allies; and crisis planning within the European and Pacific theaters of operation, according to the posted bio.

Hefty U.S. defense responsibilities and a ‘proud moment’

After retiring from the Marines, during his career in the Defense Department, Salesses’ tasks put him in a range of positions. The bio says one of those jobs involved management of $1.2 billion in defense resources.

Another “sensitive” task, it says, involved making sure the secretary of defense and other senior leaders had “the means to execute DoD’s primary mission essential functions.”

The younger Salesses has worked as a professional staff member under the leadership of Democratic and Republican presidents.

“He got to know the defense system pretty well,” his father said Friday. “It’s a proud moment.”

“I think this is his last day,” he added.

He anticipated that his son would continue to serve in the department under the secretary chosen by the president.

And late Friday night, Hegseth, an Army veteran and former “Fox & Friends” co-host, was confirmed by the Senate on a narrow 51-50 vote.

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island hockey star, whose trans father gunned down family, scores game-winning goal — sending team to championship

Published

2 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Press Room

Rhode Island hockey star, whose trans father gunned down family, scores game-winning goal — sending team to championship

The Rhode Island hockey player whose family was gunned down by his deranged trans father during one of his games last month scored the winning goal to send his team to the championship — as he honored his slain relatives.

Blackstone Valley School’s star captain Colin Dorgan netted the game-winning goal — in double overtime — Wednesday night in Providence before his Beavers teammates mobbed him on the ice, celebrating their berth to the Division II final.

The senior defenseman, wearing a patch on his uniform with the initials of his mother, brother and grandfather, called it “the greatest moment of my life,” according to WPRI.

Dorgan, who attends North Providence High School but plays for the Blackstone Valley co-op team, found himself in an offensive position and took a leading pass into a breakaway before sniping the puck past the goalie with 48 seconds left in double overtime.

“My good buddy fed me the puck, and I could hear the crowd. It was a surreal moment,” Dorgan told the outlet after the game.

While his teammates mobbed Dorgan, Blackstone Valley School’s head coach Chris Librizzi was overcome with emotion.

“I literally cried like a baby, the floodgates opened,” Librizzi said. “When I saw him open, I knew he was golden.”

Dorgan was on the ice at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket on Feb. 16 when his father, Robert Dorgan, opened fire in the stands, killing his ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan; their adult son, Aidan Dorgan; and his ex-father-in-law, Gerald Dorgan.

Gerald’s wife, Linda, and family friend Thomas Geruso were both critically wounded in the shooting.

The crazed gunman, who identified as transgender and also went by Roberta Esposito, then turned the gun on himself.

After the shooting, it was revealed that the 56-year-old gunman had recently undergone gender reassignment, and his trans identity and unhinged personality were a source of multiple family court battles leading up to the shooting.

Follow The Post’s latest coverage on the Rhode Island high school hockey shooting

The maniac gunman had also shared surnames with his in-laws because he and his ex-wife, who married in 1992, were first-cousins once removed.

Colin Dorgan praised his teammates for supporting him after the unimaginable loss he experienced last month.

“We have to stick together,” he said. “It’s a hard time for everyone. We have each other’s back, and we truly love each other. These are my brothers.”

Librizzi revealed he took in Dorgan and his sister, Ava, after they lost their family in the tragic shooting.

“We got together every single day,” Librizzi said. “We skated, worked out, or had dinner at night together for 14 days straight. I believe that made a difference.”

Fans inside the Schneider Arena at Providence College erupted with joy after Dorgan’s goal.

The overtime hero acknowledged the fanatics during his celebration, posing with his arms wide open, mouthing “Let’s go,” after the win, according to video from WPRI.

“I know every person out there loves me, and I love them, too,” Dorgan said.

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Rhode Island

Wicked Tulips announces move to North Kingstown

Published

14 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Wicked Tulips announces move to North Kingstown

Wicked Tulips announced it is opening a new location in North Kingstown.

Its new location on 140 Exeter Rd. is double the size of its previous location.

The business said it will be keeping its second location in Preston, Connecticut.

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The farm is projected to open on April 22, 2026.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Mega Millions, Numbers Midday winning numbers for March 10, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 10 drawing

16-21-30-35-65, Mega Ball: 07

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from March 10 drawing

Midday: 9-1-3-0

Evening: 4-2-1-9

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from March 10 drawing

11-12-16-27-34, Extra: 05

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 10 drawing

03-27-43-45-49, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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