FORMER NGAUS PRESIDENT Maj. Gen. William J. McCaddin, who was NGAUS president (the position is now chairman of the board) from 1978 to 1980 and the Virginia adjutant general for 12 years, died April 25 in Richmond, Virginia. He was 91. McCaddin will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. A full bio is available at the Bennett Funeral Homes website.
MCCONVILLE NOMINATION The Senate Armed Services Committee will consider the nomination of Gen. James C. McConville to be the next Army chief of staff during a Thursday hearing. McConville has been nominated to replace Gen. Mark A. Milley, who is President Trump’s pick to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
MARKUPS BEGIN House Appropriations subcommittees are beginning the process of marking up fiscal 2020 spending bills this week, with the subcommittee that oversees the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon.
KINZINGER FOR SECAF? Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., and a lieutenant colonel in the Wisconsin Air National Guard is open to replace outgoing Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson. Defense News reported Kinzinger would “strongly consider” the position if offered by President Donald Trump. Kinzinger made the remarks on Fox News on Saturday. It is unclear if Kinzinger is currently under consideration for the job.
AIR FORCE FITNESS TEST Air Force leaders are considering a plan to randomize the timing of the organization’s fitness tests. The change, if approved, could help ensure airmen stay fit year round and reduce anxiety around test schedules. Officials are also advocating for longer periods between fitness tests for those who score well.
DENTAL CARE FOR VETERANS Recently introduced legislation in the House would expand Department of Veterans’ dental programs. The Dental Care for Low-Income Veterans Act (H.R.2138), introduced by Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., would offer dental care to some veterans who cannot afford it on their own. Under current law, it is limited to veterans who have a 100% service-connected disability rating, a service-connected dental disability, former prisoners of war and homeless veterans.
SEN. RICHARD LUGAR Former Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., who served in the Senate from 1977 to 2013, died Sunday in Virginia. He was 87. He was a longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He served in the Navy from 1956 to 1969. In 2005, Lugar received the NGAUS Charles Dick Medal of Merit for his support of the National Guard.