Military Times
Senate appropriators on Aug. 4 backed White House plans for another substantial boost in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs next year, signaling strong support for the idea across congressional chambers. The committee also supported plans from the administration and House appropriators to spend about $11 billion in military construction projects next year, even as lawmakers continue to argue over the total level of defense spending for fiscal 2022.
Federal News Network
The possibility of taking the decision to prosecute nonmilitary and sex crimes out of the chain of command has dominated headlines and gotten the most attention of military officials, but members of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military are warning that adjudication is just one small piece of the puzzle. Congressional attention has largely been focused on just one section of the commission’s nearly 300-page report, but members of the panel say that without implementing other recommendations, the military’s response to sexual assault and harassment will fall flat.
Breaking Defense
BAE Systems has nabbed a $93 million, five-year contract from F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin to provide sustainment support for the AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare (EW) countermeasure system. Meanwhile, BAE has managed to cut the cost per flying hour of its EW system on the Joint Strike Fighter by more than 50 percent, said Jerry Wohletz, vice president of Electronic Combat Solutions.
FedScoop
The Department of Defense has appointed Gregory Kausner to assume the duties of undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. He takes up the role in an unofficial capacity after a career in military leadership at the Pentagon, most recently as executive director for international cooperation. There is some nuance to Kausner’s appointment—he has been asked to do the job of undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment but does not officially hold the position, as undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment requires a presidential nomination and Senate confirmation.
Janes
Working to strengthen the United States' relationship with Central and South American countries will be central to stemming off growing Chinese and Russian influence in the region, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson told lawmakers during her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. Southern Command commander.
Defense News
Defense titan Lockheed Martin named a longtime company veteran as its acting chief financial officer Aug. 3 after Kenneth Possenriede suddenly retired. Treasurer and Vice President John Mollard will temporarily take over for Possenriede, who became CFO in 2019. Possenriede decided to immediately retire due to personal reasons, the company said in a news release. Mollard worked for Lockheed Martin for nearly four decades including as the corporate treasurer for the past five years.
USAF release
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Bruce “Orville” Wright, Air Force Association president, attended the Arctic Lightning Airshow at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, July 31, 2021. Air Force Gen. David A. Krumm, 11th Air Force commander, invited Wright to the event as a way to connect him with the Airmen he represents.
The Drive
Ahead of putting experimental directed energy weapons onto its fighter jets, the Air Force is testing how these systems will operate at high speed and high altitude by trialing them in wind tunnels. Equipping fighters with directed energy, or DE, weapons, which use high-energy lasers or microwaves to engage threats, is a long-standing Air Force ambition, but one that has suffered from some well documented delays. The latest wind tunnel work may help address some of the problems encountered so far.
Grand Forks Herald
The University of North Dakota is set to become the first university to partner with the U.S. Space Force, through the agency’s University Partnership Program. UND administrators and Space Force officials will sign a memorandum of understanding Aug. 9, that will mark the beginning of an official relationship, according to a news release. The partnership is meant to harness educational and research capabilities of top universities and address workforce development skills for those working in, or wishing to work in, the space sector.
Military.com
Lawmakers got their first look Aug. 2 at Afghans moved to Fort Lee, Va., the first wave of immigrants who had helped U.S. forces and are fleeing the country as the Taliban continues to conquer large swathes of territory. In an interview with Military.com on Aug. 3, Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., described the conditions for the Afghans, who have been waiting for visas to be processed under a special program designed to help protect those who had worked with coalition forces and were facing threats from those opposing the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.
Breaking Defense
The Grey Wolf helicopter needs some design changes before it can achieve Federal Aviation Administration certification, which will delay the helicopter’s progress to Milestone C, the move to production for a major weapon system. Boeing and the Air Force made erroneous assumptions about what certifications would be required for the helicopter, Col. William Rogers, the service’s program executive for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and special operations forces, told reporters Aug. 3.
One More Thing
WTVD
For Air Force Staff Sgt. Kyle Johnson, his bond with his 9-year-old German Shepherd is a special one. "He never leaves my side, no matter where we go," Johnson said. He's not just Chickel's owner, but also his former partner. In January 2020, Johnson was stationed in South Korea, leaving behind his wife and two children. Leaving his family was a hard transition, but then he met Chickel.
