John Lavelle’s widow is “profoundly grateful” to all those who worked to help her late husband get his two stars back. A family release says President Obama’s decision on Wednesday to restore her husband’s rank, posthumously, to the grade of four-star general is a “major milestone” toward restoring his reputation. “Jack was a good man, a good husband, a good father, and a good officer. I wish he was alive to hear this news,” said his 91-year-old widow Mary Jo Lavelle through her attorney. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), a Vietnam veteran who helped move the case forward, also released a statement praising the president’s decision. “For those of us who care about history, the vindication of General Lavelle’s conduct during the Vietnam War is important news,” said Webb. The nomination requires the Senate’s approval, so for the time being Lavelle is still officially considered a major general. (Lavelle family statement)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
