The Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of William LaPlante to be the Air Force’s top civilian acquisition boss. His nomination now goes to the full Senate for consideration. If approved, LaPlante will become the Air Force’s first full-time acquisition leader since Sue Payton left the position in 2009. LaPlante was nominated for the position in October 2013 and has served as USAF’s principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition since May 2013.
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.