President Obama nominated Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn for a new assignment as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, announced the Pentagon on Tuesday. Since last September, Flynn has been serving as assistant director of national intelligence for partner engagement. He’ll replace Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, who’s led DIA since March 2009. DIA’s mission is “to prevent strategic surprise and deliver a decision advantage to warfighters, defense planners, and policymakers.”
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.