NEWS & EVENTS

Biden Calls for Swift Confirmation of Defense Secretary Pick By Rachel S. Cohen President-elect Joe Biden called on Congress to “swiftly” confirm Lloyd J. Austin III as the next Defense Secretary, rebutting concerns that his plan to nominate the recently retired Army...

Biden Picks Retired General Lloyd Austin to Run Pentagon POLITICO The former commander of U.S. Central Command will be announced as Biden's choice for Secretary of Defense as early as Tuesday.

DOD Takes Hard Look at Bases, Deployments as Budgets Decline By Brian W. Everstine The Pentagon needs to take a look at the need for overseas bases, deployments, and exercises as the country grapples with the fiscal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other...

Milley: After ‘Modicum of Success’ in Afghanistan, Drawdown Underway By Brian W. Everstine The Pentagon has approved plans to draw down to 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, focusing on a smaller number of bases and continuing the advising and training role as well as the...

First Female ANG Deputy Director: ‘There Isn’t a Ceiling’ By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory Maj. Gen. Dawne L. Deskins recently became the first woman and non-pilot to become the deputy director of the Air National Guard. She formally stepped into ANG’s number two spot in...

Air Force PT Testing Delayed Until Jan. 1, 2021 By Brian W. Everstine The Air Force will not resume physical fitness testing across the service until at least Jan. 1, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the military, top service leaders announced. The...

Air Force Vice Chief: Nearly One-Third of Employees May Permanently Telework By Rachel S. Cohen About one-third of Air Force employees may remain largely out of the office even after the coronavirus pandemic subsides, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen W. “Seve” Wilson...

Air Force Pauses Organized Physical Training The Air Force has paused organized physical fitness testing and training until 2021, in hopes the decision will help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the ranks. The decision was announced last week. “That’s really for the...

Army Tests Direct Appointments to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Senior noncommissioned officers in certain fields will be able to be receive a direct appointment to the rank of chief warrant officer two through an Army pilot program. The two-year program will apply to NCOs...

Bass Becomes First Woman, Asian American to Serve as CMSAF By Brian W. Everstine Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass took over as the 19th senior enlisted leader of the service on Aug. 14, marking a period of change and promising more diversity and...