Defense Secretary Ash Carter has highlighted changes throughout his 35-year career at the Defense Department during his farewell address in the Pentagon auditorium, DoD News reported Wednesday. Cheryl Pellerin writes Carter said DoD missions have transformed from the “great-power competition of the Cold War years” to more than a decade of counterinsurgency …
Read More »Reuters: North Korea States Readiness to Test-Launch Intercontinental Ballistic Missile; Ash Carter Comments
North Korea has said it has developed the capacity to test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile at any time and location that leader Kim Jong-Un dictates, Reuters reported Monday. Jack Kim and Ju-min Park write the North Korean government indicated its arms development efforts are in response to U.S. policies. Outgoing U.S. Defense …
Read More »Defense Innovation Board Vows Continued Support for Pentagon Under Trump Administration
A majority of Defense Innovation Board members have pledged to stay within the organization and continue to assist the Defense Department under President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, Defense News reported Monday. Aaron Mehta reports Eric Schmidt, chairman of the Defense Innovation Board, said at a public event Monday that none of the current …
Read More »US to Deploy 200 Troops for Counter-IS Efforts in Syria
The U.S. government will deploy approximately 200 additional troops to Syria in support of coalition efforts to remove the Islamic State militant group from the IS’ hub in Raqqa, DoD News reported Saturday. Shannon Collins writes Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain that the additional forces will include special operations …
Read More »Ash Carter, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Discuss Strategic Partnership for Afghanistan’s Security
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani have met in Kabul to discuss U.S.-Afghanistan strategic partnership in support of Afghanistan’s security, DoD News reported Friday. Terri Moon Cronk writes Carter said at a press conference that U.S. and coalition partners will continue to aid Afghan troops and …
Read More »Ash Carter, India’s Defense Minister Discuss Collaborative Priorities
U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and his counterpart from India Manohar Parrikar met in New Delhi as part of a trip to discuss priorities with ally nations and thank service members around the world, DoD News reported Thursday. Amaani Lyle writes the two leaders discussed technology matters including the Defense Technology and Trade …
Read More »Gen. John Hyten Takes US Strategic Command Leadership Role
Air Force Gen. John Hyten, formerly commander of the Air Force Space Command, has officially started his new post as head of U.S. Strategic Command. The Air Force said Thursday it held a change of command ceremony at Stratcom’s Offutt Air Force Base headquarters in Nebraska and Hyten succeeds Navy Adm. Cecil …
Read More »Ash Carter Announces New Outreach, ROTC Efforts in ‘Force of the Future’ Initiative
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has unveiled the new components in the Defense Department’s initiative to help the U.S. military attract and retain the workforce needed for future missions. Carter announced the outreach and ROTC efforts as the fifth and sixth links of the Force of the Future initiative during his …
Read More »Robert Work: DoD’s Third Offset Strategy Eyes New Tech to Support Conventional Deterrence Efforts
Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work has said the Defense Department‘s Third Offset Strategy seeks to bolster U.S. conventional deterrence and pursue new technologies and concepts to meet military superiority goals, DoD News reported Monday. Cheryl Pellerin writes Work discussed the Pentagon’s plans to achieve military superiority alongside other defense leaders such as U.S. Air Force Gen. …
Read More »Reuters: Australia Agrees to Co-Fund US Force Deployment Efforts in Darwin
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has discussed plans to double the number of U.S. Marines in the Australian city of Darwin by 2020 with Australia’s Defense Minister Marise Payne during a bilateral meeting held in Washington, Reuters reported Thursday. Tom Westbrook writes the two countries have reached a cost-sharing agreement in principle to increase U.S. …
Read More »