President-elect Obama on Thursday named individuals to fill several top Defense Department posts, including tapping former Clinton Administration defense officials William Lynn to serve as Deputy Defense Secretary. In a statement outlining their qualifications, the President-elect said he also intends to nominate Robert Hale as DOD comptroller, Michele Flournoy to serve as DOD policy chief, and Jeh Charles Johnson as general counsel. Obama said he’s confident “these distinguished individuals have the expertise and commitment to help me implement a sustainable national security strategy that combats 21st century threats and keeps the American people safe.” He added, “Together with Secretary Gates [whom Obama previously asked to stay over “a while longer” in the top DOD post] and our military, we will work to responsibly end the war in Iraq, defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban, and renew America’s strength and standing in the world.”
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.
