Defense & Military

Kenneth Fletcher NS&D Monitor 2/14/2014 The Air Force is launching a new effort, dubbed the “force improvement program,” in the wake of a cheating scandal involving officers that work with the nation’s ICBMs. The new effort comes as two reviews are underway that were launched by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last month in response to […]

NS&D Monitor 2/14/2014 IN CONGRESS The nation’s nuclear forces will be the subject of a pair of Senate Armed Services Committee hearings in several weeks. Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney will appear before the full committee at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 27 alongside Cyber Command chief Gen. Keith Alexander, while the panel’s Strategic Forces Subcommittee […]

In Wake of Latest Incident, Hagel Pushes to Strengthen ‘Morale Character and Morale Courage’ Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/07/2014 Navy officials are now dealing with their own nuclear cheating scandal weeks after it was revealed that dozens of Air Force officers cheated on a nuclear proficiency exam. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert and Adm. […]

Here’s a look at the events we will be keeping an eye on this week: Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, the commander of U.S. Global Strike Command, will speak at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the Air Force Association Boardroom at 1501 Lee Highway in Arlington, Va. The speech is part of the Peter Huessy Congressional Breakfast […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 6/20/2014 With the nation’s nuclear deterrent facing budgetary pressures, the Air Force and Navy in recent years have ramped up cooperation, and one of the Air Force’s top nuclear officials said this week that the cooperation is already reaping dividends. Speaking at the Capitol Hill Club, Air Force Assistant Chief of […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 6/20/2014 With lawmakers raising questions about the Obama Administration’s ‘3+2’ strategy for modernizing the nation’s nuclear stockpile, Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney this week continued to advocate for the full suite of modernization efforts proposed by the Administration. Authorizers and appropriators in both the House and Senate have raised questions […]

With questions swirling from the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee about the Air Force’s need for a follow-on nuclear air-launched cruise missile, Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney voiced his support for the mission need for the weapon. “That’s an important facet of our deterrent, to have that capability, to have that standoff capability […]

With budgetary pressure facing the nation’s nuclear deterrent, the Air Force and Navy in recent years have ramped up cooperation, and one of the Air Force’s top nuclear officials said yesterday that the cooperation is already reaping dividends. Speaking at the Capitol Hill Club, Air Force Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/07/2014 President Obama has nominated a pair of Administration officials to fill key vacancies in the Pentagon’s policy shop. On Jan. 31, Obama nominated Christine Wormuth to be the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Brian McKeon to serve as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Wormuth […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 6/13/2014 The Department of Defense has underestimated the amount of money it will cost to modernize its nuclear forces over the next 10 years, according to a new Government Accountability Office report that echoes similar findings about the NNSA. In December, the GAO highlighted shortcomings with NNSA budget estimates, noting that […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 6/13/2014 Lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee this week adopted an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations Act that would require the Department of Defense to provide a report to Congress on the nuclear contributions of U.S. NATO allies. The amendment was added to the bill as part of […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 1/31/2014 As the number of Air Force officers implicated in a cheating scandal at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana grew to 92 this week, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James suggested the service was suffering from “systemic” problems. Air Force officials previously said 34 airmen had been involved in cheating […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 1/24/2014 Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a pair of reviews of the Air Force nuclear mission following the latest misstep involving the beleaguered service. Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said nuclear commanders were being summoned to the Pentagon for a high-level meeting to analyze the “underlying leadership and […]

NS&D Monitor 1/17/2014 Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel backed maintaining support for the nation’s nuclear deterrent last week. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) followed up with a call to hold him to his word. In a statement issued Jan. 10, Corker urged Hagel to provide the “necessary” funding for the nation’s nuclear deterrent in the President’s Fiscal […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 1/17/2014 In the latest scandal to hit the Air Force’s nuclear force, 34 airmen that stood watch over the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile fleet have been accused of cheating on a proficiency exam. New Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said in a joint […]

NS&D Monitor 1/17/2014 IN STRATCOM U.S. Strategic Command is looking for a Deputy Director for Plans and Policy to replace Greg Weaver, who left StratCom last month for a post in the Department of Defense. The SES-level position pays between $143,600 and $167,000 annually, according to an Air Force job posting, and closes Jan. 27. […]

In Visit to Sandia, Air Force Bases, Hagel Also Addresses Morale of Airmen at ICBM Bases Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 1/10/2014 Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel this week said the Obama Administration will stand behind the nation’s nuclear deterrent and plans to modernize the weapons complex and the nation’s fleet of delivery vehicles even as analysts raise […]

Lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations Act that would require the Department of Defense to provide a report to Congress on the nuclear contributions of U.S. NATO allies. The amendment was adopted as part of a manager’s package of provisions, and while the language only […]

The Department of Defense has underestimated the amount of money it will cost to modernize its nuclear forces over the next 10 years, according to a Government Accountability Office report that echoes similar findings about the NNSA. In December, the GAO highlighted shortcomings with NNSA budget estimates, noting that the costs of a new cruise […]

The Department of Defense has underestimated the amount of money it will cost to modernize its nuclear forces over the next 10 years, according to a Government Accountability Office report that echoes similar findings about the NNSA. In December, the GAO highlighted shortcomings with NNSA budget estimates, noting that the costs of a new cruise […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 6/6/2014 The Air Force is aiming to strengthen its nuclear mission, and announced plans last week to elevate several nuclear-related commands. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James is proposing to increase leadership of Global Strike Command from a three-star general to a four-star general, and would also increase the Air Force […]

A pair of House Democrats are seeking to have NATO member states foot part of the bill for “sustaining and forward-deploying” nuclear weapons in Europe. Reps. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) filed an amendment that will be considered by the House Rules Committee today for debate on the House Floor as lawmakers take […]

Officials say it’s not in response to Russia’s nuclear exercises last week, but U.S. strategic forces began a massive nuclear response drill yesterday dubbed “Global Lightning 14.” According to a statement from U.S. Strategic Command, the exercise is slated to include 10 B-52 Stratofortresses and up to six B-2 Spirit bombers to “demonstrate flexibility and […]

Did you miss 60 Minutes’ look into the problems facing the nation’s ICBM fleet Sunday? You can watch Lesley Stahl’s report online on CBS’ website. Stahl interviewed Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein, the commander of the 20th Air Force, which oversees the 450 ICBMs spread out between Malmstrom, Minot and F.E. Warren Air Force Bases.  

The Department of Defense yesterday announced its nuclear force structure implementation plan under the New START Treaty yesterday, outlining a plan that would include reductions across the three legs of the nuclear triad. Under the plan, the Pentagon will trim the size of its deployed intercontinental ballistic missile force by 50 ICBMs but preserve each […]

Even in a tight budgetary environment, the United States can “ill afford” not modernizing its nuclear deterrent, the head of United States Strategic Command told the House Armed Services Committee yesterday. Adm. Cecil Haney made his first appearance before the panel after taking over as StratCom commander late last year, and argued that spending on […]

The Obama Administration is requesting $365.1 million in Fiscal Year 2015 for the Department of Defense’s Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction account, a $135.4 million reduction from FY 2014 funding levels that likely reflects a slow-down in nuclear security work in Russia. Funding for Nunn-Lugar work has remained relatively steady in recent years, with $446.2 million […]

March 26 is shaping up to be a busy day on Capitol Hill for the National Nuclear Security Administration. While the co-chairmen of the NNSA governance panel appear before the House Armed Services Committee, top leaders from the agency will testify before the Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee. The Senate hearing will include testimony […]

A House Armed Services Committee hearing with Strategic Command and Pacific Command was postponed yesterday because of snow in Washington, D.C. While Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Locklear will testify before the committee today, Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney is likely to appear before the committee in early April, though a date has not […]

Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney will appear before the House Armed Services Committee for the first time next week. Haney will testify before the committee alongside Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Locklear at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Room 2118 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Haney’s appearance before the committee will come on the […]