House Speaker-designee Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has tapped Rep. Sylvestre Reyes (D- Tex.) to chair the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In a statement, Pelosi cited his “impeccable national security credentials” and his long-time service on intelligence and armed services committees and his military service as measures of his bona fides. Pelosi bypassed the intel committee’s ranking Democrat, fellow Californian Jane Harman.
The Space Development Agency added 21 satellites to its nascent data transport network in an Oct. 15 launch, the second mission in 10-month campaign to field 154 operational spacecraft.