Panthers owner nominated to be Army secretary

President-elect Donald J. Trump has nominated Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola as secretary of the Army.

In a statement Monday, Trump said Viola is "living proof of the American dream." Viola grew up in a family of Italian immigrants in Brooklyn. His father worked as a truck driver.

Viola is a 1977 West Point graduate. He trained as an Airborne Ranger infantry officer and served in the 101st Airborne Division. He is a graduate of New York Law School. In 2003, he founded and helped fund the creation of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.

Viola bought the Panthers for about $250 million in 2013.

In a statement, the Panthers said ownership of the team will remain in the Viola family.…