Ash Carter became deputy defense secretary during a private swearing-in ceremony at the Pentagon Thursday. He replaced Bill Lynn, who stepped down after serving in that role since February 2009. Carter has been the Pentagon’s acquisition executive since April 2009 and has played a leading role in the Pentagon’s drive to shed overhead and operate more efficiently. The Senate last month unanimously approved Carter for the deputy post. (AFPS report by Karen Parrish)
The Pentagon could have the option to create a new combatant command devoted to unmanned and autonomous systems if a provision in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s annual defense policy bill becomes law. The legislation is one of several moves lawmakers have proposed in recent weeks to both bound and…