The Senate on Aug. 5 confirmed Gen. Mark Milley to be the next Chief of Staff of the Army, Adm. John Richardson to be the next Chief of Naval Operations, and Lt. Gen. Robert Neller for his fourth star and new role as Commandant of the Marine Corps. Milley, who previously served as commander of US Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., replaces Gen. Ray Odierno, who is retiring. Richardson, the former director of the Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Program, will replace Adm. Jonathan Greenert. Neller previously served as commander of US Marine Corps Forces Command. He replaces Gen. Joseph Dunford who was recently confirmed to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Each is a proven leader with decades of operational experience. Our nation is stronger for their service, and the President and I will continue to benefit from their extensive expertise and strategic counsel in their new roles,” said Defense Secretary Ash Carter in an Aug. 6 statement.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.