Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a 2025 Wash100 awardee, has issued a memo directing Anthony Tata, under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, to release guidance to “encourage workforce rewards and demystify the removal process.”

In his Sept. 30 memo titled “Modern Workforce Management,” Hegseth wrote that Tata will lead a “cultural refresh” aimed at incentivizing top civilian employees and advancing the removal of underperformers at the Department of Defense.

“First, we need to incentivize and reward our top performers. Department employees are not in it for the money, but our best performers need to be appropriately recognized for their performance, including through meaningful monetary awards,” the DOD secretary said.

“Second, managers need more guidance on how to separate underperforming employees. Complex offboarding creates cultural drag that hurts morale across the Department and hinders our mission,” he added.

DOD Under Secretary Tata’s Directive on Removal Procedures for Underperformers

Hegseth’s memo coincided with the release of Tata’s new directive, which outlined processes for eliminating underperforming employees.

“Supervisors and human resources (HR) professionals are directed to act with speed and conviction to facilitate the separation from Federal service of employees performing unsuccessfully,” Tata wrote in a memo to senior Pentagon leadership, DOD agency and field activity directors, and heads of combatant commands.

According to an attachment to Tata’s memo, removal may be justified by factors such as “consistent failure” to meet deadlines, repeated mistakes that disrupt operations or hinder the agency’s goals, and inability to carry out key tasks.

The memo directs supervisors to partner with HR officials to send notices of proposed removal to underperformers, who will be given seven calendar days to respond.

According to the directive, the deciding official will assess and decide within 30 calendar days of receiving the proposed removal notice.

The U.S. Army demonstrated the Integrated Battle Command System, an advanced network designed to link sensors and weapons across the battlefield, during a missile flight test on Oct. 2 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

IBCS Missile Defense Capabilities

The service branch said Monday the test, led by the Program Executive Office Missiles and Space in coordination with the 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, showcased IBCS’ advanced capabilities. During the demonstration, soldiers from the 3rd Battalion were able to detect, track and eliminate two maneuvering cruise missiles in a contested environment, achieving two first-shot intercepts, underscoring the system’s effectiveness in real-world combat scenarios. This missile flight test concluded the IBCS follow-on operational test and evaluation phase.

Modernizing Missile Defense Through Unified Sensor Networks

The IBCS leverages the “any-sensor, best-weapon” operational principle to integrate real-time data from multiple sensors into a single, coherent operational picture, enabling faster decision-making, smarter threat engagement and greater resilience under attack. This approach aims to advance the Army’s efforts to modernize air and missile defense, enhancing its operational edge to meet emerging threats.

The Department of the Army has combined U.S. Army Futures Command and Army Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC, to form Army Transformation and Training Command, or T2COM.

Army Transformation & Training Command’s Mission & Functions

According to a notice published Thursday on the Army Publishing Directorate’s website, the military branch expects T2COM to enable the synchronization and integration of force development, force generation and force design responsibilities under a singular Army command.

T2COM will be responsible for synchronizing recruitment efforts. The command will educate, train and strengthen the profession of arms and advance Army modernization initiatives. It will also leverage HDDA budget forums to advocate for priorities related to training and transformation and ensure alignment with warfighter requirements.

Under the management of the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, T2COM will develop priorities and maintain oversight of science and technology.

Army Combined Arms Command as T2COM’s Major Subordinate Command

DVIDS reported that the Army Combined Arms Center has been redesignated as Army Combined Arms Command, or CAC, which will serve as a major subordinate element of T2COM.

The move seeks to strengthen the service branch’s ability to rapidly modernize and adapt. The change also highlights CAC’s expanded role in enterprisewide command and control of Army doctrine, education, training and leader development.

CAC will also accelerate the delivery of high-quality education and training to soldiers.

In addition to CAC, the U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Center has been redesignated as Army Futures and Concepts Command, or FCC.

FCC and Army Recruiting Command will also serve as T2COM’s major subordinate commands.

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has established a new cross-departmental portfolio aimed at reinforcing a warrior ethos and improving the quality of service across the Navy and Marine Corps. The initiative will be led by Under Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, whose mandate ties service member readiness, family well-being and institutional accountability directly to the fleet’s operational effectiveness.

Unified Focus on People and Performance

The portfolio consolidates major functions affecting sailors and Marines — from personnel policies and housing to audit oversight and digital infrastructure — under a single leadership framework. According to Phelan, the move is designed to eliminate bureaucratic barriers, accelerate problem-solving and ensure that improvements in quality of service translate into combat power.

“Readiness starts at home and shows up on target,” Phelan said. The new structure “puts one quarterback and one playbook on the field to execute my gameplan for upgrading how we recruit, train, equip and take care of our people, so the Fleet stays the world’s premier, most lethal maritime force,” he added.

Under Secretary Cao’s Appointment

Phelan welcomed Cao to the role following his swearing-in by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, noting his record of leadership and prior service in uniform.

“It is my pleasure to welcome Hung Cao to my Navy team; I look forward to having this experienced patriot lead on the highest priorities of the Secretary of War,” Phelan said.

Core Areas of Responsibility

Cao’s portfolio integrates multiple lines of effort central to the Navy’s operational and organizational goals:

• Quality of service: Conduct rapid inspections and upgrades of housing, healthcare, education and recreation facilities; strengthen oversight of public-private ventures; and improve nutrition programs both ashore and afloat.
• Digital and business systems: Partner with the Navy chief information officer to modernize IT and business systems, reduce downtime and streamline digital tools across the enterprise.
• Audit readiness: Oversee the auditor general to advance clean audit opinions and improve accountability and resource transparency.
• Recruiting and personnel policy: Assess recruiting standards and practices to meet end-strength goals and ensure uniform, non-negotiable standards for all applicants. Update physical fitness requirements and policies related to the rescinded COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
• Reserve reform: Implement ongoing integration efforts between active and reserve components to strengthen force readiness and operational capability.
• Wellness and suicide prevention: Coordinate department-wide mental health initiatives and represent the Navy in interagency prevention and readiness bodies.
• Permanent change of station and family support: Oversee streamlining of PCS processes and improvement of educational options for military families, including homeschooling support.
• Guam infrastructure: Review and resolve energy and material challenges to position Guam as a key power-projection platform for Indo-Pacific operations.
• Standards and warrior ethos: Implement department-wide direction to eliminate divisive programs and maintain focus on combat-ready standards.

Strengthening Force Through Standards

Phelan emphasized that the initiative aligns with Secretary of War Hegseth’s recent directive on restoring uniform, high standards across the armed forces. “When Sailors and Marines know their families are supported, housing is right, chow is quality and systems work the first time, morale rises, performance sharpens and the force delivers,” he said.

He added that his department’s efforts are designed to translate daily improvements into measurable readiness outcomes. “Minutes saved are minutes gained in the fight,” Phelan stated. “With this move I am giving my Under Secretary the responsibility and the tools to fix what slows us down and to fuel what makes us unbeatable.”