News and reports from the Department of Defense, DOD.

Dr. Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, engaged in a video teleconference with People's Republic of China (PRC) Major General Li Bin, Director of the Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation. The conversation was centered around issues of mutual concern.

The Defense Department is set to host a series of free virtual events, including a symposium, webinar series, and a hiring fair from May 14 through May 30. These events aim to empower military spouses in achieving their career goals and establishing connections with potential employers.

Leaders from the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of the Interior convened at the Pentagon on Monday to commemorate the renewal of the Recovery and Sustainment Partnership (RASP). This follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year, aimed at promoting the recovery of threatened and endangered species while simultaneously supporting national security.

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) and the Japan Ministry of Defense (MOD) have reached a formal agreement for a Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Cooperative Development (GCD) Project Arrangement. This agreement is in line with the U.S.-Japan bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Projects (RDT&E).

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Dr. William A. LaPlante, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, Chris Lowman, have announced the release of the Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF). The RSF is designed to optimize regional Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has initiated a new Open Announcement via the Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Authority (DIBC OTA). This announcement will accept unsolicited White Papers for consideration for Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) funding. The DIBC, which offers free membership, is open to U.S. organizations as well as international partners from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. The FY24 National Defense Authorization Act designated the UK and Australia as domestic sources for...

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III recently engaged in a conversation with Egypt's Minister of Defense, General Mohamed Zaki. The discussion revolved around regional challenges and the profound bilateral security cooperation between the two nations.

Performing the Duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Melissa Dalton, recently met with Deputy Commander of the Italian Carabinieri, Lt. Gen. Riccardo Galletta at the Pentagon on May 8. The meeting was reported by Department of Defense Spokesman Colonel David Herndon.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke today with his counterpart from Lithuania, Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas. Secretary Austin congratulated Minister Kasčiūnas on his recent appointment as minister and the two discussed support to Ukraine, NATO regional plans, recent progress with Lithuania's defense industrial base, and U.S. force posture in the Baltics.

President Biden has issued an order prohibiting the acquisition and necessitating the divestment of a cryptocurrency mining facility located within one mile of Francis E. Warren Air Force Base (F.E. Warren AFB). The directive also mandates the removal of certain improvements and equipment at the property by MineOne Partners Limited, which is primarily owned by nationals of the People's Republic of China; MineOne Cloud Computing Investment I L.P.; MineOne Data Center LLC; and MineOne Wyoming Data Center LLC (collectively known as MineOne), including their affiliates.

On May 13, 2024, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and his Canadian counterpart, Minister of National Defence Bill Blair, convened for a bilateral meeting at the Pentagon. The leaders engaged in discussions on various issues including cooperation through NATO to counter Russian aggression against Ukraine, their shared commitment to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernization, Canada's Defence Policy Update, defense spending, Haiti's security situation, Middle East security, and the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a Final Rule, published in the Federal Register, which revises its regulation on the medical malpractice claims process for Active-Duty Service members. The revised rule removes the offset requirement for payments related to non-economic damages.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced additional security assistance to address Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This marks the Biden Administration's fifty-seventh tranche of equipment provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. The Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, valued at an estimated $400 million, includes capabilities designed to support Ukraine's most urgent battlefield requirements, such as air defense, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons.

The Department of Defense (DoD), representing all Federal agencies, has announced a partnership with Dominion Energy Virginia to jointly strive towards the carbon pollution-free electricity targets set out in President Biden's Federal Sustainability Plan and Executive Order 14057 of December 8, 2021. The plan reestablishes the federal government as a sustainability leader.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III recently announced a series of flag officer nominations made by the president. The nominations include Navy Vice Adm. John F. Wade for reappointment to the grade of vice admiral, with assignment as commander, Third Fleet, San Diego, California. Wade's most recent post was as commander of Task Force Red Hill at Camp H.S. Smith in Hawaii.