Jessica Wright will step down from her position as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness on March 31, 2015, the Pentagon announced last week. Wright, a retired Army major general and commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard, has served in her current position since January 2013. She said she is leaving to spend time with family and enjoy her retirement. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who announced his own resignation late last month, said he asked Wright to remain onboard until the end of the Defense Department’s year-long review of sexual assaults in the ranks. “She did, and I appreciate that. I know our Defense Department and men and women of this department appreciate it,” Hagel said. Wright said serving as undersecretary for personnel and readiness has been “one of the greatest privileges of her life,” according to a Dec. 5 Pentagon release. She previously served as assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.