Trump nominates Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola as secretary of the Army

President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Virtu Financial founder Vincent Viola as secretary of the Army, the Trump transition team said on Monday.

"Whether it is his distinguished military service or highly impressive track record in the world of business, Vinnie has proved throughout his life that he knows how to be a leader and deliver major results in the face of any challenge," Trump was quoted as saying in a statement.

Viola, now a billionaire was born to Italian immigrants in Brooklyn and is "living proof of the American dream," said Trump in a statement.

A graduate of West Point and New York Law School, Viola helped fund the creation of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point in 2003.

Viola bought the Panthers for about $250 million in 2013, the Associated Press reports.