News and reports from the Department of Defense, DOD.

This week, the Department of Defense announced the appointment of eight new members to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). The committee comprises a maximum of 20 members, including military retirees, veterans, and civilian women and men from academia, industry, public service, and other professions. Selection is based on military experience or experience with women-related workforce issues. Members are selected for four-year terms and perform various duties, including visiting military installations annually, conducting a review and evaluation...

The Defense Science Board presented their findings yesterday from the 2023 Summer Study on Climate Change and Global Security to officials from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Canadian Department of National Defence. The study, led by Dr. Tomás Diaz de la Rubia and VADM Michael Franken (Ret.), investigated the impacts of climate change on global political and military stability.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided a readout of a phone conversation between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided a readout of a meeting held on June 25, 2024, between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon.

On June 25, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone with Russian Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov. This was Secretary Austin's first phone call with Minister Belousov, and he emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amid Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has released the Fulcrum: DoD Information Technology (IT) Advancement Strategy, aimed at continuing transformative changes in the Department’s IT, Cyber, Command, Control, and Communications sectors. This strategy also aims to enhance the digital workforce while laying a foundation for future advancements.

Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon provided the following readout:

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks is scheduled to visit U.S. Central Command headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base on Tuesday, June 25, according to Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon.

The 95th Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC), the Department of Defense's oldest and most prestigious public outreach program, commenced today at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. The event will run through Friday, June 29. This year, leaders from various industries will gain firsthand knowledge about national defense from Service members across the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard during a weeklong immersion.

The Department of Defense is hosting its first Survivor Symposium, focusing on educating surviving family members of service members who died on active duty about their benefits, entitlements, and available resources. This virtual event will take place on June 21 from noon to 3 p.m. EDT and is also geared toward service providers assisting military families.

In a ceremony at the Pentagon today, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks and Performance Improvement Officer and Director of Administration & Management, Ms. Jennifer C. Walsh, honored Department of Defense 2023 Presidential Rank Awards recipients.

DOD Spokesperson Robert L. Ditchey II provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made several nominations for high-ranking military positions.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nomination: Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Philip E. Sobeck for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Sobeck is currently serving as commander, Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia.

The Department of Defense (DOD) announced this week two listening sessions to gather public input on its environmental justice (EJ) strategy. The DOD is updating its EJ Strategy in accordance with Executive Order 14096, "Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All," and aims to adopt a whole-of-government approach to advancing EJ.