The Senate confirmed the nomination of Adm. Cecil Haney to lead US Strategic Command, succeeding Gen. Robert Kehler, who has overseen the combatant command since January 2011. The Senate action came on Aug. 1, according to the body’s list of non-civilian confirmations. Haney has commanded the US Pacific Fleet since January 2012. (For coverage of Haney’s July 30 confirmation hearing, read Haney: No to Flying Solo Beyond New START.)
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.