President Obama last week nominated retired Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz to be undersecretary of energy for nuclear security. In this position, Klotz would also lead the National Nuclear Security Administration, which is charged with maintaining the safety, security, and effectiveness of the US nuclear weapons stockpile. Obama announced his intent to nominate Klotz on Aug. 1; that same day, Klotz’s nomination reached the Senate, according to the Senate’s website. Senators must approve the nomination. Klotz retired from the Air Force in March 2011 after some four decades in uniform. In his final assignment, Klotz led Air Force Global Strike Command for nearly two years; he was the then-newly activated command’s first boss. Before that, he was assistant vice chief of staff. He currently serves as a senior fellow for strategic studies and arms control at the Council on Foreign Relations. If the Senate gives the OK, Klotz would fill the vacant post created with the resignation of Thomas D’Agostino in January. Bruce Held has been the acting undersecretary and acting NNSA administrator.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.