The Marine Corps' top uniformed officer said  Wednesday that he supports the Pentagon's assessment on how to lift the ban on openly gay and lesbian service members as long as it doesn't hurt the military's objectives.

In a House committee meeting Wednesday, Gen. James Conway said he supports the effort but added that civil rights may have to take a backseat if it meant tampering with the military's ability to provide national security, according to the Associated Press.

Conway said he worried that military effectiveness would become "secondary to the discussion." According to the report, he is seen as the most resistant among the service chiefs regarding the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."