EXCLUSIVE: Austin approves downgrade of 5 general officer jobs at embassies

EXCLUSIVE: Austin approves downgrade of 5 general officer jobs at embassies
EXCLUSIVE: Austin approves downgrade of 5 general officer jobs at embassies

The memo, obtained by Breaking Defense, reverses course on four previously planned downgrades for the SDO/DATT for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as well as the role of the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC).

Rep. Langevin Presses SecDef On Cyber, EW Priorities

Rep. Langevin Presses SecDef On Cyber, EW Priorities
Rep. Langevin Presses SecDef On Cyber, EW Priorities

“The Department of Defense officially recognizes five domains of warfare,” Rep. Langevin said. “For four of those domains, the senior civilian is a service secretary. Cyber has a deputy assistant secretary, which is four rungs lower than the other warfighting domains. Why does this make sense?”

Austin Easily Clears Waiver Votes, Could Be In Pentagon By Friday

Austin Easily Clears Waiver Votes, Could Be In Pentagon By Friday
Austin Easily Clears Waiver Votes, Could Be In Pentagon By Friday

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith issued a statement this morning saying, “while we hoped to hold an open hearing with the Secretary-designate and he had agreed to do so, procedural issues have prevented a hearing,” since the HASC has yet to finalize its member roster.

Austin To Scrub US Pacific Posture; More Bases, Troops Likely

Austin To Scrub US Pacific Posture; More Bases, Troops Likely
Austin To Scrub US Pacific Posture; More Bases, Troops Likely

The United States must do more to counter China’s “aggressive and coercive actions,” which Biden’s presumptive Defense Secretary calls “an increasingly urgent challenge to our vital interests in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.”

Key Democrats Lukewarm On SecDef Nominee; Biden Signals Return To Soft Power

Key Democrats Lukewarm On SecDef Nominee; Biden Signals Return To Soft Power
Key Democrats Lukewarm On SecDef Nominee; Biden Signals Return To Soft Power

“There really is former-general-officer fatigue, bordering on apprehension, on the Hill – on both sides of the aisle,” a former Senate staffer says. “Trump really burned out a lot of folks.”

Gen. Carlisle: JTACS In Iraq Would Mean Lots Of US Ground Troops

Gen. Carlisle: JTACS In Iraq Would Mean Lots Of US Ground Troops
Gen. Carlisle: JTACS In Iraq Would Mean Lots Of US Ground Troops

America was surprised last summer by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) lightning offensive. After 25 years of flying and fighting around the world. the Air Force’s Air Combat Command was able to rapidly shift portions of its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) network towards Iraq, launching 80 ISR missions over Iraq in the first…

Army Vice Chief Austin Named CENTCOM Commander

Army Vice Chief Lloyd Austin named CENTCOM boss, replacing outgoing Marine Gen. James Mattis: http://1.usa.gov/Vck51l  @SydneyFreedberg

Army Quests For Holy Grail: The Elusive Armed Aerial Scout

WASHINGTON: Army aviation leaders thought they had a plan to start developing a new Armed Aerial Scout all teed up for the vice chief of staff’s approval last month. But Gen. Lloyd Austin III said, “no.” It was the latest twist in a 21-year (and counting) saga to replace the Army’s aging OH-58D Kiowa Warriors,…

Sequestration Would Break Faith With 225,000 Troops, Warn Top Generals

CAPITOL HILL: The vice-chiefs of the Army and Marine Corps warned legislators today that sequestration would force the military and the nation to break enlistment contracts with up to 225,000 troops who would have to be precipitately discharged to save money. “We would absolutely not be able to keep faith with our people,” said Gen.…

New Army Vice Picked

The new man responsible for running the Army day to day is the first African-American to serve in the role and a general who has cut his teeth serving under Defense Secretary Gates. The news comes from Loren Thompson, a member of Breaking Defense’s Board of Contributors. He wrote that: “Lloyd James Austin III has…