Richard Spencer Out as Navy Secretary
NavSec Richard Spencer has been ousted from his post after his handling of the case of Navy SEAL Edward “Eddie” Gallagher, who was accused of war crimes. DefSec Mark Esper asked for Mr. Spencer’s resignation late Sunday.
DoD Fails 2nd Audit – No Surprise
DoD’s second-ever financial audit shows some progress, but uncovers more new problems than fixes. DoD has 3 million employees, 4,500 defense sites in 160 countries, a $292 billion inventory, more than $2.9 trillion in total assets, and $2.8 trillion in liabilities.
Focus Growing in Middle East on UAVs
There is a strong focus on imports for unmanned aerial vehicles in the Middle East. Nations there are looking at a mix of US, Russian, and Chinese suppliers of UAVs.
$39 Million Missile Sale to Ukraine Approved
The same request that helped initiate an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump has netted $39 million in a missile sale to Ukraine to help deter Russia.
Esper is Sworn in as DefSec
Mark Esper is sworn in as US Secretary of Defense during an Oval Office ceremony. Esper supports former DefSec Jim Mattis’ National Defense Strategy to maintain preparedness for conflict with capable adversaries like Russia and China.
$738B for DoD Not Enough, Says GOP
The nearly $1.4 trillion spending plan — which would prevent a government shutdown this fall and do away with the final two years of budget caps known as sequestration — includes about $738 billion for DoD in FY2020, a 3 percent increase from current year levels.
Navy’s Aviation Accidents Keep Rising
Manned aviation accident deaths across the services continue to break records, but the steady six-year climb finally halted this year. Only the Navy did not improve in the total accident categories from 2017 to 2018 and is still 83 percent higher than in 2013.
Drones Change the Battlefield & Bases
Drones are already changing the battlefield and impacting US strategy. Increased robotic controls of drones will likely also reduce the human footprint of counterinsurgency as the technology advances.
Trump Considering Space Force in DoD
President Trump, honoring Army for its football team and praising all five branches of the military, suggests discussions are ongoing about a sixth branch — a space force.
Self-Driving Cars in Terrorists’ Future Also
The future is bright for self-driving cars, but credible reports out of Finland show terrorist groups considering how autonomous vehicles can replace suicide bombers and conduct ramming attacks.
