Chuck Hagel, former Defense Department secretary, has been selected to receive the Reserve Officers Association of the United States’ Minuteman Hall of Fame award. ROA said Wednesday it will present the recognition to Hagel at its convention on July 27 at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Washington, D.C. “To …
Read More »Chuck Hagel: Pentagon Needs Predictable Funding to Meet Operational Goals
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has said the Pentagon’s budget is an important tool for the department to deploy mission-ready forces and conduct operations globally, DoD News reported Thursday. “We need long-term budget predictability and we need the flexibility to prioritize and make the difficult decisions in order to manage our …
Read More »Chuck Hagel: Budget Uncertainty Hinders Military Strategic Programs
Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday the U.S. military will not achieve strategic goals if the Defense Department does not get relief from budget caps, Defense One reported Thursday. “Our planners can’t commit because of the uncertainty of the budgets,” he told service members at Fort Bliss, Texas, during …
Read More »Pentagon to Launch European Infrastructure Consolidation Move; Chuck Hagel Comments
The Defense Department will move to consolidate several U.S. infrastructures in Europe and establish a base for the F-35 program at RAF Lakenheath in the U.K under a $985 million initiative. DoD plans to relocate the KC-135s and the 352nd Special Operations Wing to Germany and the assigned RC-135s within the U.K., the department said Thursday. …
Read More »US Officially Ends 13-Year Combat Mission in Afghanistan
President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel have announced the official end to the U.S. war in Afghanistan, DoD News reported Sunday. Operation Enduring Freedom was formally concluded during a ceremony held Sunday at the International Security and Assistance Force’s Kabul headquarters, according to DoD News. “We give thanks …
Read More »DoD Undersecretary for Personnel & Readiness Jessica Wright Resigns
Jessica Wright has resigned from her post as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness effective March 31, 2015, to pursue retirement after 40 years of public service. The Defense Department said Thursday Wright, a retired major general in the Pennsylvania National Guard, assumed her current responsibilities in January 2013. She initially served in an …
Read More »DoD, Council of Governors Discuss Sequestration, Fiscal Initiatives, Apache Plans
The Defense Department and the Council of Governors discussed sequestration, fiscal initiatives and military consolidation plans at a conference call of representatives this week. Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters Tuesday that both parties agreed on the negative effects automatic spending cuts will have to agency and state interests, …
Read More »CNN: Ashton Carter the Lead Defense Secretary Candidate
According to a report by CNN, former Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is the lead candidate to succeed Chuck Hagel as defense secretary and will receive the nod from President Barack Obama “barring any last minute complications.” Jamie Crawford and Barbara Starr report that Carter appears to be open to a return to …
Read More »Analysts: Pentagon to Continue Tech Reforms After Chuck Hagel’s Departure
The Defense Department will likely continue its technology innovation program and start new initiatives after Secretary Chuck Hagel departs the Pentagon, Defense News reported Sunday. Paul McLeary writes th DoD’s Defense Innovation Initiative, crafted by Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work, pushes to further the development of new technologies within the defense sector. Under the program, the Pentagon will …
Read More »Report: LCS Replacement Program Uncertain With Chuck Hagel’s Resignation
The Defense Department‘s plans on the replacement platform for the final 20 Littoral Combat Ships is on hold following Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel‘s resignation, DoD Buzz reported Tuesday. Kris Osborn reports that Hagel was due to announce his decision in the past week based on recommendations from the U.S. Navy‘s Small Surface Combatant Task Force. SSCTF …
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