PENTAGON NOMINEES CLEAR SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

The Senate Armed Services Committee reported out the nominations of seven Pentagon nominees yesterday, including Jim Miller, the Obama Administration’s pick to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Kathleen Hicks, the President’s selection to take over as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Miller is currently serving as the Pentagon’s top policy official, having taken over the post when Michele Flournoy left the Department of Defense in February. Hicks is taking Miller’s spot as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. She has spent the last three years as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Forces, and if she’s confirmed by the full Senate in her new post, she’ll oversee the development of nuclear weapons policy among other issues.