News and reports from the Department of Defense, DOD.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, the Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, convened in Hawaii on May 2 for a significant meeting aiming to promote a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.During the meeting, the Ministers and Secretaries expressed serious concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas. They strongly objected to the use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the...

The Department of Defense has revealed the recipients of the prestigious 2023 DOD Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Awards, showcasing the outstanding accomplishments of various fire departments, fire officers, and firefighters within the organization. Brendan Owens, assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations, and environment, commended the efforts of the DOD F&ES in 2023, emphasizing their dedication to reducing risks and ensuring the protection of military installations and training lands.Among the winners, the Fire Department of the Year in the Small...

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III recently gathered for the United States-Japan-Australia Trilateral Defense Ministers' Meeting in Hawaii. The meeting marked the thirteenth of its kind and focused on the progress and cooperation outlined in the 2023 Joint Statement.The Ministers emphasized their commitment to promoting security, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, as stated by Marles, "The Ministers are united by...

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and Chairman of the Jordanian Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Al-Hnaity recently co-chaired the 44th meeting of the U.S.-Jordan Joint Military Commission (JMC) in Washington, D.C. Department of Defense Spokesperson Maj. Pete Nguyen provided a readout of the key discussions that took place during the meeting.During the meeting, both the U.S. and Jordanian delegations reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing their security partnership, which plays a crucial role in regional...

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Information Officer, has announced a Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) class deviation related to cybersecurity standards for covered contractor information systems.According to the announcement, the class deviation aims to allow the industry a more deliberate transition in anticipation of the upcoming release of the revised National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, titled...

The Joint Reserve Directorate (JRD) recently held its inaugural executive session at the Pentagon, focusing on defining objectives to better support the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E). The organization updated its mission statement to "Flexible force accelerating innovation," highlighting its role as a reserve detachment composed of military reservists leveraging their civilian expertise for science and technology solutions.Air Force Col. Reza Grigorian, JRD director, emphasized the importance of innovation within the...

The Department of Defense (DOD) is preparing to present its proposed $849.8 billion fiscal year 2025 budget request before Congress. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are keen to understand the development of the budget, which emphasizes people, teamwork, and security.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III engaged in discussions with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant regarding crucial matters on May 1, 2024. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder outlined the key points of the conversation, which focused on the ongoing hostage negotiations, humanitarian assistance efforts, and the situation in Rafah.During the call, Secretary Austin reaffirmed his dedication to the safe return of all hostages and emphasized the necessity of ramping up humanitarian aid to Gaza. Ryder noted, "Secretary Austin reaffirmed his commitment to...

In August 2023, the Department of Defense (DoD) 2040 Task Force (D2T) launched an innovation challenge aimed at improving talent management within the organization, with a focus on recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse workforce. The challenge received over 200 innovative ideas from Service members and civilians around the globe, addressing various talent management challenges.After a rigorous review process, thirty-three ideas advanced to the semi-final round, where teams presented their concepts to a panel of senior leaders and subject matter experts from the...

The Chief of Staff of the Army has released a list of officer assignments, detailing the movements of various high-ranking military officials within the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. The changes in assignments are set to take place in different locations across the United States and internationally.Among those mentioned in the announcement is Maj. Gen. Jason E. Kelly, who will be transitioning from commanding general of the U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson in South Carolina to deputy commanding general for Civil Works and Emergency Operations at the U.S. Army...

Department of Defense spokesperson Lt. Col. Dave Herndon has announced that senior delegations from the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently convened at the Pentagon for the annual U.S.-UAE Joint Military Dialogue (JMD). The dialogue served as a crucial platform for enhancing the defense partnership between the two nations.During the meeting, discussions encompassed a wide array of regional and defense issues, including regional threats, counterterrorism, maritime security, air and missile defense, and security cooperation. Notably, there was a...

The Office of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff released new assignments for command senior enlisted leaders. Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Ted R. Braxton Jr. will replace Navy Command Master Chief Michael S. Koch at the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa in Djibouti. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kyle J. Gilliam will take over from Army Command Sgt. Maj. Corey Perry at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Rose will succeed Navy Command Master Chief Timothy L. Garman at...

The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced a historic new security assistance package for Ukraine, aimed at addressing the country's ongoing battlefield needs and showcasing unwavering U.S. support. The package, provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), includes a wide range of equipment to bolster Ukraine's defenses.The announcement, made on the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, signifies a significant commitment from the United States to assist Ukraine in its defense efforts. The funding for this package was...

Pentagon Spokesman Lt. Col. Devin T. Robinson provided the following readout:"On April 23-24, the United States Department of Defense hosted the Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) Ad-Hoc Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) ahead of the XVI CDMA to be held in Mendoza, Argentina in October 2024."Representatives developed a Joint Statement that includes recommendations to ministers for consideration in the Declaration of Mendoza. Recommendations include: Continuing to hold the Ad-Hoc WPS Working Group; acknowledging the importance of WPS...

Pentagon Spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout of a call between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Romanian Minister of National Defence Angel Tîlvăr on April 25, 2024. During the call, the two officials discussed Russia's war in Ukraine and ongoing efforts to provide additional security assistance for Ukraine.Ryder stated that both Secretary Austin and Minister Tîlvăr "reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the Ukrainian people and condemned Russia's unlawful war of choice." Secretary Austin also acknowledged Romania's crucial role as...