Christopher J. Castelli

Archived Articles
Daily News | February 8, 2013

The Defense Department could use funding shifts to manage the impact of sequestration, but these tools would not significantly curb automatic cuts to key contracts and programs, a senior White House official said today.

The Insider | February 8, 2013

The Senate Appropriations Committee today announced plans for a Feb. 14 hearing on the impacts of sequestration.

Daily News | February 7, 2013

The Defense Department's fiscal year 2014 budget is slated to focus more investment in disruptive technologies with the aim of using them to support the development of emerging DOD capabilities, according to a Pentagon source familiar with the plans.

The Insider | February 6, 2013

At the Navy's request, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has delayed the deployment of the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and the cruiser Gettysburg (CG-64), which were scheduled to depart Norfolk, VA, later this week for U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement this afternoon.

The Insider | February 5, 2013

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno released his "strategic intent" today, calling on the service to refocus on its core warfighting skills while improving its ability to distribute and reassemble its forces rapidly, building the mass needed for the central mission of fighting and winning the nation's wars.

The Insider | February 4, 2013

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) today criticized the Defense Department's “culture of inefficiency” and questioned whether the White House's nominee to be defense secretary, former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), has the chops to grapple with problems in the Pentagon's process for buying major weapons.

The Insider | February 4, 2013

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter arrived in Turkey on Sunday for "close consultations on a number of core issues," Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a Feb. 3 statement.

The Insider | January 31, 2013

The Senate Armed Services Committee will likely vote next Thursday on whether to back the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) as defense secretary, Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) told reporters today following Hagel's confirmation hearing.

Daily News | January 31, 2013

The White House Office of Management and Budget has issued key budget guidance to the Pentagon, advancing the Defense Department's efforts to finalize its fiscal year 2014 budget plans.

The Insider | January 31, 2013

Former Sen. Hagel (R-NE) today stopped short of committing to acquiring 12 new nuclear ballistic missile submarines to replace the Navy's aging Ohio-class boomers.

The Insider | January 30, 2013

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is heading to Europe for several days of meetings on security issues, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little announced today.

Daily News | January 28, 2013

The Navy will face a $4 billion operations and maintenance cut in fiscal year 2013 if sequestration is triggered in March, forcing the fleet to stop all deployments to the Caribbean and South America and curb other movements around the globe, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert writes in a memo.

The Insider | January 26, 2013

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has sent a letter to President Obama expressing concern and disappointment over the State Department's decision to proceed with the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Egypt despite instability in the region and a change of leadership.

The Insider | January 25, 2013

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Senate's assistant majority leader, announced today that he will become the chairman of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee when the panel organizes early next month.

The Insider | January 24, 2013

The Obama administration is expressing concern today following North Korea's new vow to conduct a nuclear test and to invest in capabilities to strike the United States.

The Insider | January 18, 2013

The 11th annual U.S. Missile Defense Conference -- hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, and supported by the Missile Defense Agency -- has become a casualty of federal fiscal woes.

The Insider | January 17, 2013

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), the incoming ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today wrote Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to urge the Pentagon to provide detailed information on the impact of sequestration as soon as possible.

Daily News | January 16, 2013

U.S. Special Operations Command is planning a competition to acquire non-developmental, highly mobile vehicles capable of being transported inside V-22 Ospreys.

Daily News | January 16, 2013

U.S. Special Operations Command's decision to award only one contract for its Dry Combat Submersible-Light (DCS-L) program came after officials weighed resources against requirements and determined two contracts would be unaffordable, according to a spokesman for the command.

The Insider | January 16, 2013

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), the incoming ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, met yesterday with former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and said he would not support Hagel's nomination to succeed Leon Panetta as defense secretary.

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