nominations

Trump taps new Air Force, Space Force No. 2s

Pending Senate confirmation, Gen. Thomas Bussiere would become the Air Force's next vice chief of staff, while Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton has been nominated to fill the Space Force's vice role.

Gen. David Allvin tapped for next Air Force Chief of Staff

Allvin, currently the Air Force's No. 2 officer, has been nominated to succeed Gen. CQ Brown as service chief. But his path forward remains murky as a blanket hold placed on military confirmation by Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville drags on.

CQ Brown is Biden’s pick for next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs – here’s how he might approach the role

The former fighter pilot and current chief of staff of the Air Force is expected to be a champion for the service’s modernization strategy, as well as an advocate for making the armed services more inclusive.

‘What goes around comes around’: Reed warns GOP on military holds long-term impact

“[It could become] a real waste of time and resource if every nominee for any political position is held up, but made all the more nonsensical in that uniformed service members do not set policy,” said CNAS senior fellow Katherine Kuzminski.

Biden defense nominations: A disappointing first year status report

The reality is these holds can easily be overcome if there was a willingness by Senate leadership to force what will likely be overwhelmingly bipartisan positive votes.

Biden Nominates Douglas Bush To Be Army Top Acquisition Official

Given his previous work, Bush is intimately familiar with the acquisition challenges that Army faces as it pushes modernization.

Key Senator, Congressman Praise Biden’s Navy Nominee

“Carlos Del Toro is an excellent selection to be the next Secretary of the Navy,” declared Senate Armed Services chairman Jack Reed.

Wormuth Defends Army Budget, Missile Programs

The nominee for Army Secretary also aims to end “friction” between civilian acquisition officials and Army Futures Command, she told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Pentagon & NSC Veteran Tapped For SecArmy: Christine Wormuth

“She brings a wealth of experience in national security [that] will help her in the inevitable Pentagon brawls for funding,” retired Lt. Gen. Tom Spoehr told me.

Biden Taps Two Admirals To Face China Challenge

If confirmed by the Senate, Adm. John Aquilino and Vice Adm. Samuel Paparo will enter their jobs amidst increasing competition in fleet size, precision missiles, hacking, & espionage.

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."

Hicks Is Biden’s Pick For Pentagon Deputy; Kahl For Policy

With over two decades in the Pentagon under Clinton, Bush, and Obama, Kathleen Hicks brings the civilian bureaucratic experience that retired Gen. Lloyd Austin sorely lacks. Neither has the political clout of a Jim Mattis or a Bob Gates.

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."

Bipartisan Backlash Scuttles Senate Hearing For White House Favorite

Anthony Tata was facing across-the-board Democratic opposition and increasingly shaky support among Republicans due to inflammatory Tweets deriding then-President Obama, Islam, and accusing former CIA director John Brennan of attempting to order the killing of Trump.