President Obama nominated Army Gen. John Campbell, Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel, and Adm. Bill Gortney to lead NATO forces in Afghanistan, US Special Operations Command, and US Northern Command, respectively, announced Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Tuesday. “All three are highly qualified officers who have devoted many years of service to their country,” said Hagel. The Senate must approve these nominations. Votel would receive a fourth star for the SOCOM leadership post. Campbell, currently Army vice chief of staff, would replace Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, whom Obama has tapped to be Marine Corps Commandant. Votel, Joint Special Operations Command boss, would succeed Adm. William McRaven at SOCOM’s helm. Gortney, who now oversees US Fleet Forces Command, would take the place of Army Gen. Charles Jacoby at NORTHCOM. Gortney would also become head of NORAD. Hagel said Dunford, McRaven, and Jacoby “have all been exemplary and highly effective commanders.”?
NASA Boss: Race to Moon Has National Security Stakes
Sept. 15, 2026
NASA is pushing hard to get astronauts back to the moon by 2028—and the urgency is driven in no small part by the national security implications of doing so before China does, Administrator Jared Isaacman said Sept. 15.
