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Reuters: Trump Eyes Former Senator Dan Coats as National Intelligence Director
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Reuters: Trump Eyes Former Senator Dan Coats as National Intelligence Director


Reuters: Trump Eyes Former Senator Dan Coats as National Intelligence Director
Dan Coats

President-elect Donald Trump is set to nominate Dan Coats, a former senator from Indiana, as the next director of national intelligence, Reuters reported Thursday.

Steve Holland writes the official announcement of Coats’ nomination is anticipated this week.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters Coats has the experience and leadership skills “to understand what that role entails,” the report said.

Coats previously served as U.S. ambassador to Germany under former president George W. Bush.

He practiced law in Fort Wayne, worked as a special counsel at law firm Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, MacPherson and Hand and served in the U.S. Army.

Current DNI James Clapper tendered his resignation in November, which will take effect when President Barack Obama’s term ends Jan. 20.

AMC Warns of Mobility Pilot Shortage; Carlton Everhart Comments
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AMC Warns of Mobility Pilot Shortage; Carlton Everhart Comments


AMC Warns of Mobility Pilot Shortage; Carlton Everhart CommentsThe Air Mobility Command predicts it will increasingly run short on mobility pilots over the next few years, Air Force Times reported Thursday.

Stephen Losey writes the command currently has an overall shortfall of 4 percent out of 7,940 total force pilots that comprise active duty, guard and reserve.

AMC Commander Gen. Carlton Everhart said up to 1,600 pilots will become eligible to separate over the next four years and that the U.S. Air Force aims to identify strategies to address the shortfall, according to the report.

“We’re watching the forecast, and it’s going to start dropping precipitously, starting at the end of this year,” Everhart was quoted as saying.

Air Force Times reports the military branch also considers reassignment of extra duties the pilots do not want to perform in an effort to keep them in the service.

CBP Implements Mobile Passport Control Tool at Sacramento Intl Airport; Brian Humphrey Comments
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CBP Implements Mobile Passport Control Tool at Sacramento Intl Airport; Brian Humphrey Comments


CBP Implements Mobile Passport Control Tool at Sacramento Intl Airport; Brian Humphrey CommentsThe U.S. Customs and Border Protection has implemented the Mobile Passport Control application in California’s Sacramento International Airport as part of efforts to speed up processing at major international airports.

CBP said Thursday the app is designed to help travelers submit their passport data and other information to the agency through their mobile devices before their arrival.

“CBP remains committed to keeping the international arrivals process as secure and traveler-friendly as possible by offering new and innovative technology,” said Brian Humphrey, director of field operations in San Francisco.

The app is available for download from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and, with the addition of SMF, is accessible at 21 international airports.

In June 2016, CBP also deployed the app to the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey.

The app was launched in August 2014 for travelers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and has now reached 1 million downloads, according to the agency.

CBP partnered with the Airports Council International- North America and its technical partners to develop the app.

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Marcel Lettre, Adm. Michael Rogers Talk DoD’s Cyber Policy Framework, Industry’s Cyber Role at Senate Hearing
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Marcel Lettre, Adm. Michael Rogers Talk DoD’s Cyber Policy Framework, Industry’s Cyber Role at Senate Hearing

Marcel Lettre, Adm. Michael Rogers Talk DoD’s Cyber Policy Framework, Industry’s Cyber Role at Senate HearingMarcel Lettre, defense undersecretary for intelligence, has said the Defense Department has established mission objectives for cybersecurity such as efforts to defend DoD’s networks and provision of cyber options to military commanders, DoD News reported Thursday.

Amaani Lyle writes Lettre told Senate Armed Services Committee members at a Thursday hearing on foreign cyber threats the Pentagon will continue to develop its framework on national cyber policy that includes all aspects of the deterrence posture and ability to deny the enemy’s goals.

He also noted that DoD has facilitated the “maturation” of the cyber command in support of global operations and efforts to protect the country from cyber attacks.

Navy Adm. Michael Rogers, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency, told lawmakers the government must continue to seek industry assistance when it comes to the development of cyber defense platforms and “build resiliency into our critical infrastructure systems,” Lyle reports.

Rogers also cited the need to invest in technologies and skilled workforce to facilitate cyber threat detection, the report added.

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Sen. John McCain: Senate Armed Services Committee to Draft Cyber Policy Bill
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Sen. John McCain: Senate Armed Services Committee to Draft Cyber Policy Bill


Sen. John McCain: Senate Armed Services Committee to Draft Cyber Policy BillSenate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Arizona) has said SASC will create a bill that would require President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to draft a cybersecurity policy and strategy in response to Russia’s cyber hacking operations during the 2016 presidential elections, Defense News reported Thursday.

Joe Gould writes McCain noted that his committee will also set up a new cyber subpanel to be chaired by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina).

He added that he has begun to collaborate with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on a bill that would authorize stringent sanctions against Russia, Gould reports.

McCain announced the plans at a committee hearing Thursday attended by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper; Adm. Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency and Cyber Command; and Marcel Lettre, defense undersecretary for intelligence.

Clapper, who will step down as DNI on Jan. 20, told committee members he would brief lawmakers on an unclassified report on Russia’s cyber hacking campaign during the elections that is slated for release early next week, the report added.

The Senate committee hearing comes a week after the White House imposed sanctions against Russia in relation to its involvement in the U.S. presidential elections through an amended executive order.

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Peter Cook: Navy Carrier Strike, Army Brigade Combat Groups Will Head to Western Pacific, Europe Missions
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Peter Cook: Navy Carrier Strike, Army Brigade Combat Groups Will Head to Western Pacific, Europe Missions


Peter Cook: Navy Carrier Strike, Army Brigade Combat Groups Will Head to Western Pacific, Europe MissionsPeter Cook, Pentagon press secretary, has said that approximately 7,500 sailors will depart San Diego as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to boost U.S. presence in the western Pacific, DoD News reported Thursday.

Karen Parrish writes Cook added the sailors from the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group will head to the region to conduct maritime security operations, bilateral exercises and theater security cooperation efforts.

The report said that the U.S. will also implement a series of actions to reflect the country’s commitment to collective security and help NATO allies maintain peace and stability.

“Tanks, trucks and other equipment are scheduled to arrive in Europe this weekend, beginning a nine-month rotation of U.S. Army forces supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve,” said Cook.

“This effort is part of our European Reassurance Initiative to maintain persistent, rotational presence of air, land, and sea forces in Central and Eastern Europe.”

He noted that troops and equipment from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division will be relocated throughout Europe for training and exercises with allies in the region.

Navy to Deploy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Squadron to Japan
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Navy to Deploy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Squadron to Japan


Navy to Deploy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Squadron to JapanThe U.S. Navy will deploy its Northrop Grumman-built E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to Japan next month as part of the service branch’s rebalance effort in the Asia Pacific, USNI News reported Thursday.

Sam LaGrone writes the E-2D assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 Tigertails will head to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni from Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia as a component of Carrier Air Wing 5.

The squadron is meant to replace the VAW-115 Liberty Bells that will relocate to Point Mugu in California, according to the report.

“The U.S. Navy is also scheduled to begin a phased relocation of CVW-5’s fixed-wing aircraft from Naval Air Facility Atsugi to MCAS Iwakuni,” the military branch said.

The service branch added that the relocation will begin in the second half of 2017.

CNN’s Brad Lendon reported Friday that the E-2D is equipped with a Lockheed Martin-made A/N-APY radar system that works to detect smaller targets and stealth aircraft.

The report said the aircraft set for deployment to Japan previously operated from the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier to support the war against the Islamic State organization.

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Navy Realigns Information Warfare Learning Sites
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Navy Realigns Information Warfare Learning Sites


Navy Realigns Information Warfare Learning SitesThe U.S. Navy has subordinated the Center for Information Warfare Training’s learning sites under training commands in a move to increase oversight of the facilities.

The service branch said Tuesday that CIWT’s 12 learning sites will be renamed “information warfare training sites” and placed under the control of Information Warfare Training Commands in Virginia Beach, Corry Station, Monterey and San Diego.

CIWT detachments at Fort Gordon, Georgia and Goodfellow, Texas will continue to report directly to CIWT, the Navy added.

“The goal is to bring the sites closer to where the training happens,” said CIWT Commanding Officer Bill Lintz.

Lintz added the reorganization will work to optimize control over the quality of training and give sites “an immediate superior that can provide the greatest level of assistance.”

CIWT aligned each IWTS to an IWTC based on mission and proximity.

The center was established to provide trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services.

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DoD to Examine Feasibility of Lockable Opioid Package
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DoD to Examine Feasibility of Lockable Opioid Package


DoD to Examine Feasibility of Lockable Opioid PackageThe Defense Department will conduct a feasibility study on the use of locking vials to prevent opioid pilfering and abuse in an effort to comply with a provision in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

Safe RX said Thursday the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act also provides funds to state and local government agencies to research the impact of dispensing controlled substances in locking repositories.

The National Narcotics Officers Association, D.A.R.E. and the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse have urged Michael Botticelli, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to persuade federal agencies to support the use of lockable containers for dispensing of controlled substances.

Safe RX president and CEO Milton Cohen said that locking prescription vials are projected to prevent drug abuse in as many as five million teenagers and return $56 billion to U.S. economy over a 10-year period.

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Barry Van Lare: Next Administration Should Form Intergovernmental Partnership With State, Local Govt Agencies
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Barry Van Lare: Next Administration Should Form Intergovernmental Partnership With State, Local Govt Agencies


Barry Van Lare: Next Administration Should Form Intergovernmental Partnership With State, Local Govt AgenciesThe incoming U.S. president and Congress should establish a new intergovernmental partnership with state and local government agencies in an effort to facilitate the deployment of resources to help address domestic issues and reinstate public trust.

Barry Van Lare, president of BLVL Consulting, wrote in the Memos to the President article series published Wednesday on Government Executive that the new administration should create and maintain an intergovernmental database through the establishment of a cross-agency program that would facilitate data collection and distribution.

The next administration should also prioritize intergovernmental collaboration, promote dialogue among the three levels of the government and recognize state and local agencies as government enterprises, Lare noted.

The incoming administration should advance transparency and accountability efforts as well as build up the White House’s office of intergovernmental affairs and its counterparts at the department level by involving them in policy development, he added.

The National Academy of Public Administration developed the Memos to the President article series with the American Society of Public Administration and George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.

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