USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) entering the Mediterranean Sea on Aug. 25, 2022. Daniel Ferro photo used with permission
This post has been updated with additional information on Ohio-class guided-missile submarines in U.S. 6th Fleet.
For the first time in recent memory, two U.S. carrier strike groups are now in the Mediterranean Sea as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has entered its seventh month, USNI News has learned. Read More
The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), lead ship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, transits the Atlantic Ocean during a restricted maneuvering exercise on Oct. 13. US Navy Photo
A U.S. carrier strike group is lingering in the Mediterranean Sea rather than journeying to the Middle East on orders from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, USNI News learned on Tuesday.
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USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) on May 20, 2021. US Navy Photo
U.S. Navy officials are denying a guided-missile destroyer conducting a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea was “expelled” from the Paracel Island Chain on Thursday. Read More
NASA Photo
A debate between lawmakers over defense spending is brewing, as a group of progressive House members push for cuts to the defense budget while others argue for a boost to shipbuilding. Read More
Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III reacts to a question about being married for 41 years during his Senate Armed Forces Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C. Jan. 19, 2021. DOD Photo
This post has been updated to reflect the Senate’s passage of the waiver for retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin.
The House and Senate on Thursday both voted to pass legislation granting a waiver for retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as President Joe Biden’s secretary of defense. Read More
The following is the text from the Jan. 20, 2021 message from Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker sent to the Department of the Navy. Read More
Defense Secretary nominee Lloyd Austin responds to a question during his Senate Armed Forces Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19, 2021. DoD Photo
President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Defense Department plans to take another look at the National Defense Strategy should he be confirmed, he told lawmakers on Tuesday. Read More
This post has been updated to clarify that Thomas Harker was performing the duties of the undersecretary of defense and comptroller.
Thomas Harker, who for the last few years has served as the Department of the Navy’s chief civilian financial official, will assume the role of acting Navy secretary once President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in, a Navy official confirmed to USNI News. Read More
Outgoing commander U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd Austin makes remarks during the U.S. Central Command change of command ceremony at Macdill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fl., March 30, 2016. US Army Photo
President-elect Joe Biden called retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin III “the right person for this job” as the 28th secretary of defense in an appearance Wednesday in Wilmington, Del. Read More
Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of United States Forces – Iraq and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey visit with service members on Thanksgiving to reemphasize the mission at hand and thank them for their continued service and sacrifice at this critical time in Iraq. Defense Department Photo.
This story has been updated to include a statement from former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy.
President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday formally announced his decision to nominate retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as his defense secretary. Read More
