John Negroponte is leaving his job as national intelligence director to work under Condoleeza Rice, as deputy secretary of State. Associated Press reports that President Bush will nominate retired Vice Adm. Mike McConnell, with more than two decades in intelligence, to replace Negroponte. Meanwhile, at the Pentagon, the Washington Post reports that new Defense Secretary Robert Gates may tap retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James Clapper Jr. to fill the intelligence undersecretary post vacated by Stephen Cambone. Another long-time intel officer, Clapper last was head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.