The Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson to be the next commander of US Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. If approved by the full Senate, Robinson, who currently serves as commander of Pacific Air Forces, will become the first female combatant commander. The panel, by voice vote, also approved the nomination of Army Gen. Vincent Brooks to be the commander of US Forces-Korea and Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti to be the next commander of US European Command, replacing retiring Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove. The nominations now head to the full Senate.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.