The Senate has confirmed retired Lt. Gen. James Clapper to serve as the Pentagon’s top intelligence official, a post vacated by former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s man Stephen Cambone. Clapper, nominated by President Bush in January, had served for five years as head of the National Geo-spatial Intelligence Agency, before being forced out by Rumsfeld.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.