The Insider

By Tony Bertuca
September 26, 2023 at 6:03 PM

Senate appropriators have released a bipartisan stopgap funding bill that would avert a government shutdown through Nov. 17, while providing military aid to Ukraine and allow the Defense Department to obligate money to begin construction of the Columbia-class submarine.

The Senate’s proposed continuing resolution, however, is set to run into the GOP-led House’s deeply divided debate, where it will be dead-on-arrival with some Republicans who oppose continued aid to Ukraine.

The Senate bill would provide nearly $4.5 billion in emergency funding for the Defense Department to “respond to the situation in Ukraine and to refill U.S. military inventory,” according to a summary released by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA).

President Biden had requested nearly $10 billion in military aid.

The CR would also provide the State Department with $1.65 billion to aid Ukraine.

The Pentagon said earlier this month that it has nearly $6 billion remaining in congressionally appropriated funds used for transferring weapons to Ukraine. The amount also includes $3 million for the DOD inspector general’s office to continue its oversight of Ukraine aid.

The bill would also allow DOD to spend money on the Columbia-class submarine program, which the White House has said it needed to avoid a 20-month program delay. Typically, a CR prohibits DOD from increasing weapons production or beginning new programs.

The bill would also extend authority to provide protection and personal security for former or retired DOD officials for the duration of the CR.

Meanwhile, it is unclear how -- or if -- the House will be able to advance its own CR as Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) can only rely on a narrow majority to pass legislation without the help of Democrats, who do not support many of the GOP’s fiscal and social policy proposals and have been uniformly voting against Republican spending bills.

Congress has until Oct. 1 to pass a CR if it is to avoid a government shutdown.

By Dan Schere
September 26, 2023 at 4:44 PM

The Army has chosen Textron Systems and Griffon Aerospace to participate in the next phase of the Future Tactical UAS rapid prototyping program, the service announced Tuesday.

FTUAS, part of the Army’s Future Vertical Lift portfolio, has requirements that include runway independence and a “rapidly deployable UAS capability,” according to the service. Its vertical takeoff and landing will provide increased maneuverability, and it will have a “reduced transportation and logistics footprint,” according to the Army’s announcement. FTUAS will help brigade combat teams conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, aiding in collecting intelligence about the enemy during multidomain operations.

In February, the Army awarded five rapid prototyping other transaction authorities for Increment 2 of FTUAS to AeroVironment, Griffon Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada and Textron.

In the first agreement option period, the Army evaluated each company’s submission against requirements, Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), cost, schedule and risk, according to the Army’s Tuesday announcement. This was followed by a preliminary design review that involved assessing each company’s weapon system design.

The second agreement option period, which begins Tuesday, will involve more evaluation of weapon system designs for Textron and Griffon. A critical design review will then establish the “final system design and initial product baseline,” according to the Army.

The critical design review will be followed by a third agreement option period involving flight demonstrations and “MOSA third-party verification,” according to the Army. A subsequent agreement option period will include delivering weapon systems and support equipment for testing and demonstrations with soldier touchpoints.

The Future Unmanned Aircraft System family of systems, which includes FTUAS, is a new start for fiscal year 2024, according to budget justification materials. The service included $53 million in procurement funding in its FY-24 request.

By John Liang
September 26, 2023 at 4:14 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on upcoming multinational procurement deals, the Pentagon's Replicator implementation mechanism and more.

The Defense Department's top acquisition official spoke today during a moderated discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies:

LaPlante: 'Production diplomacy' is coming via new deals with U.S. allies

Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante, fresh from a meeting last week with NATO's top armaments directors, said defense contractors should expect the United States to soon announce more multinational procurement deals -- involving co-development, co-production and co-sustainment -- with its closest allies, including Ukraine.

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks recently sent a memo on the Defense Innovation Steering Group:

Pentagon memo details Replicator implementation process

A Defense Department memo details the Pentagon's Replicator implementation mechanism, outlining the structure and process that the internal "Defense Innovation Steering Group" will use to fill pressing operational gaps through 18-month innovation sprints.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has handed control of a weather satellite over to the Space Force:

Space Force accepts second weather satellite to monitor Indian Ocean

The Space Force has accepted the transfer of a second weather satellite that will provide regional coverage over the Indian Ocean for the U.S. military until 2030, the service announced Sept. 22.

U.S. officials recently discussed the Pentagon's new cyber strategy with their Chinese counterparts:

U.S., Chinese defense officials huddle to discuss cyber issues

The Pentagon said Friday that U.S. and Chinese defense officials had a meeting to discuss the recently released 2023 Cyber Strategy.

Keep an eye out in the next few months for the Space Force's command and control software acquisition strategy:

Space Force to submit final Space C2 acquisition strategy in next three months

Sometime in the next three months, the Space Force will submit a final software acquisition strategy for its command and control effort to Pentagon officials for review, according to a service spokeswoman.

By Georgina DiNardo
September 25, 2023 at 4:30 PM

The Pentagon's Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation today announced $30 million in grants split across six different Defense Manufacturing Community Support Programs.

The DMCSP, which invests in long-term critical skills, facilities, workforce development, research and development and small business support, ­­­was established by the defense secretary to designate and support consortiums as Defense Manufacturing Communities and strengthen the national security industrial base.

On Aug. 16, the assistant defense secretary for industrial base policy designated six consortia as Defense Manufacturing Communities and instructed the OLDCC to ask them to submit grant applications in response to a DMCSP Notice of Funding Opportunity released on April 24 for the proposal solicitation period.

The awarded amount comes from fiscal year 2023 funds, with an additional $10 million in non-federal funds being added, for a total investment of more than $40 million.

"Delivering capabilities to our warfighters at scale depends on a resilient and robust manufacturing base," said Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante. "This year's awards will strengthen advanced manufacturing capabilities in defense-critical sectors while cultivating our most important resource: our people. I am confident that the collaboration with public, private and academic partners fostered by the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program will have a lasting impact not only on our defense industrial base, but on our national security for years to come."

The Michigan Defense Resiliency Consortium will receive nearly $5 million to undertake a $6.3 million project to create the critical foundation for energy storage and battery manufacturing intended to support the Pentagon’s transformation from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.

The Missouri Defense Manufacturing Community Consortium was awarded nearly $5 million for a nearly $8 million project to train and establish a steady pipeline of engineers and tradespeople skilled in modern digital advanced manufacturing technologies.

The New York Consortium for Space Technology Innovation and Development is set to receive $5 million for a project worth about $6.8 intended to address the need for advanced space technology manufacturing and supply-chain capabilities. This project will be a collaboration of universities, research institutions, industry experts and government agencies throughout New York.

The New York State Microelectronics Defense Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Workforce consortium was also awarded $5 million for a $7.8 million project to strengthen talent pipelines and improve resiliency among local suppliers in the microelectronics industry.

The Central Pennsylvania Defense Shipbuilding Talent and Innovation Defense Ecosystem will receive a nearly $5 million grant for a $6.1 million project to help the Navy try to meet its goal of increasing submarine production from one to three annually through supporting a long-term pipeline of skilled workers and increasing adoption of production automation in the submarine industrial base.

Finally, America’s Additive Foundry Consortium will receive $5 million for a $7.5 million project to address foreign supply chain issues by securing a U.S. supply of tactical alloys through additive, hybrid and intelligent manufacturing.

"These grant awards are focused [on] defense-critical sectors, from battery and energy storage to microelectronics and castings and forgings," said Laura Taylor-Kale, assistant defense secretary for industrial base policy. "These projects highlight the important innovation ecosystem that exists between public, private and academic partners, and DOD looks forward to following the progress on each of these initiatives."

By John Liang
September 25, 2023 at 1:06 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Space Force's command and control software acquisition strategy, sending weapons to Taiwan and more.

Keep an eye out in the next few months for the Space Force's command and control software acquisition strategy:

Space Force to submit final Space C2 acquisition strategy in next three months

Sometime in the next three months, the Space Force will submit a final software acquisition strategy for its command and control effort to Pentagon officials for review, according to a service spokeswoman.

Modifying weapons for Taiwan, especially when they weren't designed to be exported, adds time to the process, according to DOD officials:

U.S. defense industry takes heat for Taiwan weapons backlog

U.S. government officials told Congress this week that a $19 billion backlog of foreign military sales to Taiwan is due to shortcomings in the defense industrial base, but an influential business association that represents some of the largest Pentagon contractors seeks a more balanced view of the challenge.

Document: House hearing on defense cooperation with Taiwan

More Taiwan news:

House lawmakers address government shutdown and Taiwan

Two members of the House Armed Services Committee today spoke publicly about how lessons learned from Ukraine may be applied to Taiwan and the national security impact of a government shutdown.

A new U.S.-Canada Cloud-Based C2 system modernizes battle management and command and control functions by replacing existing systems with modern cloud-based applications, enhanced by artificial intelligence and machine learning to create a common operating picture:

U.S.-Canada ready new domestic airspace C2 system for ops; first major upgrade since post-9/11

The United States and Canada are close to declaring initial operational capability of Cloud-Based C2 -- a new homeland defense battle management, command and control system to replace a tool established after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks -- that top brass say is needed to defend North America from modern threats and is a likely candidate to be part of a future domestic cruise missile defense system.

A new Government Accountability Office report finds that the Defense Department, Army and Navy "need to reassess the future sustainment strategy" for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program:

GAO: Assessment needed on F-35 sustainment

The Defense Department needs to reassess its approach to F-35 Joint Strike Fighter sustainment to boost its mission-capable rates to program goals, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Thursday.

Document: GAO report on F-35 sustainment

By Nickolai Sukharev
September 25, 2023 at 9:20 AM

The Army Science Board will convene in a closed meeting on Tuesday to discuss two studies, according to a Federal Register notice.

Members of the ASB will review, deliberate and vote on the findings and recommendations presented for two fiscal year 2023 studies on Sept. 26 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in Arlington, VA.

The first study, “Testing, Validating, and Protecting Army use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Models,” contains controlled unclassified information and will be presented in a closed session from 8:45 - 10:00 a.m.

The second study, “Advanced Concepts to Support Army Warfighting Functions in the Indo-Pacific,” also contains controlled unclassified information and will be presented in a closed session at 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.

Earlier this month, the ASB released a study assessing the future threats to fifth-generation ground vehicles.

By Nickolai Sukharev
September 25, 2023 at 9:15 AM

The Army has awarded Oshkosh an additional contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, the Defense Department announced Friday.

Costing $31.1 million, Oshkosh will produce the JLTV at the company's facility in Oshkosh, WI, by June 30, 2025, the announcement says.

The award follows previous contracts announced in August.

Designed to replace a portion of the Army’s humvees, the JLTV is a family of four wheeled trucks designed to transport personnel and payloads across the full range of military operations.

The JLTV has a four-seat combat tactical variant and two-seat combat support variant. The combat tactical variant has subvariants with a machine gun turret and a cargo hold designed to carry heavier weapons. The combat support variant is designed to haul cargo or shelters.

The JLTV will also feature lithium-ion batteries to reduce fuel consumption and minimize engine noise.

In June, the Government Accountability Office denied Oshkosh’s protest of the Army’s decision to award the next production phase of the JLTV to AM General.

The Army is slated to procure 49,099 JLTVs, according to service budget documents for fiscal year 2024.

The Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force will also procure smaller portions of JLTVs.

By Tony Bertuca
September 25, 2023 at 5:00 AM

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak around the Washington area this week, including at a congressional hearing to discuss the Biden administration's decision to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado, rather than relocate it to Alabama.

Tuesday

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion with Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante on maritime security.

Wednesday

The House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee holds a hearing on military housing.

Defense News hosts a webcast featuring the Pentagon's deputy director of manufacturing technology.

Thursday

The House Armed Services Committee holds a hearing with senior Pentagon officials on the Biden administration's decision to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado.

The Senate Armed Services Committee hosts a hearing to consider the nominations for under secretary of defense for policy and assistant secretary of defense for acquisition.

Gen. Paul Nakasone, chief of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, speaks at the National Press Club.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee holds a hearing on counterterrorism and Authorization for the Use of Military Force reform.

The House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific subcommittee holds a hearing on "Lasers and Water Cannons: Exposing the Chinese Communist Party's Harassment in the South China Sea."

By John Liang
September 22, 2023 at 1:51 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a nascent U.S.-Canadian homeland defense battle management, command and control system, a recent GAO report on the F-35 program and more.

Cloud-Based C2, which became a program in May 2022, is set this fall to replace the Battle Control System-Fixed which achieved initial operational capability in October 2006 in support of Operation Noble Eagle -- North American Aerospace and Defense Command's activities to protect the two nations' domestic airspace initiated after the September 2001 terrorist attacks:

U.S.-Canada ready new domestic airspace C2 system for ops; first major upgrade since post-9/11

The United States and Canada are close to declaring initial operational capability of Cloud-Based C2 -- a new homeland defense battle management, command and control system to replace a tool established after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks -- that top brass say is needed to defend North America from modern threats and is a likely candidate to be part of a future domestic cruise missile defense system.

A new Government Accountability Office report finds the Defense Department, Army and Navy "need to reassess the future sustainment strategy" for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program:

GAO: Assessment needed on F-35 sustainment

The Defense Department needs to reassess its approach to F-35 Joint Strike Fighter sustainment to boost its mission-capable rates to program goals, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Thursday.

Document: GAO report on F-35 sustainment

The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing this week on defense cooperation with Taiwan:

U.S. defense industry takes heat for Taiwan weapons backlog

U.S. government officials told Congress this week that a $19 billion backlog of foreign military sales to Taiwan is due to shortcomings in the defense industrial base, but an influential business association that represents some of the largest Pentagon contractors seeks a more balanced view of the challenge.

Document: House hearing on defense cooperation with Taiwan

Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Pat Ryan (D-NY), noted at an S4G Summit this week that even with a possible government shutdown, they will be not working this weekend as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has sent everyone home for the weekend:

House lawmakers address government shutdown and Taiwan

Two members of the House Armed Services Committee today spoke publicly about how lessons learned from Ukraine may be applied to Taiwan and the national security impact of a government shutdown.

The new Navy Science and Technology Board is scheduled to hold its first meeting today:

Ex-Pentagon and Navy officials anchor new technology board

A new science and technology advisory board launched to support the Navy and Marine Corps will strive to bring insight and perspective to operational risks and benefits of emerging platforms, software and systems.

By Tony Bertuca
September 21, 2023 at 6:24 PM

President Biden today announced a $325 million security assistance package for Ukraine that will transfer additional air defense systems and munitions directly from U.S. stocks, according to the Pentagon.

The package, funded via presidential “drawdown” authority and coincides with the Washington visits of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, includes:

  • AIM-9M missiles;
  • Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
  • Avenger air defense systems;
  • .50 caliber machine guns to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems;
  • 155mm artillery rounds, including the Dual-purposed improved conventional munitions;
  • 105mm artillery rounds;
  • Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
  • Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
  • Over three million rounds of small arms ammunition;
  • 59 light tactical vehicles;
  • Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; and
  • Spare parts, maintenance, and other field equipment.

The announcement is the 47th tranche of equipment the Biden administration has provided Ukraine since August 2021.

“This package includes additional capabilities to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses as it faces brutal aerial assaults from Russia, dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) which are helping Ukraine on the battlefield, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment to meet Ukraine’s critical needs and to help Ukraine counter Russia’s ongoing war of aggression,” the Pentagon said.

By Nickolai Sukharev
September 21, 2023 at 3:39 PM

Four companies will design and build Robotic Combat Vehicle prototypes for the Army, the service announced Wednesday.

McQ, Textron, General Dynamics Land Systems and Oshkosh received contracts for an approximate combined value of $24.72 million to build and deliver two prototypes by August 2024 in the first phase of the Army Robotic Combat Vehicles program, the announcement reads.

The Army will then select one of the four contractors for Phase II in 2025 to build and deliver nine prototypes in 2026 with fielding expected in 2028, the announcement states.

RCVs are a family of tracked and wheeled combat vehicles designed to be operated remotely and will accompany manned combat vehicles as scouts or escorts.

The vehicles will come in light, medium and heavy variants with the ability to carry modular payloads for electronic warfare and counter-unmanned aerial systems, according to the Congressional Research Service.

In 2023, the Army decided to prioritize development of the light variant, CRS said.

Previously, the Army suggested the RCVs could share parts with the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, now called the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle.

The RCVs are part of the Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle program, which includes replacements of the Abrams main battle tank and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle as well as the adoption of the M10 Booker Mobile Protected Firepower and the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle.

By Tony Bertuca
September 21, 2023 at 3:01 PM

President Biden intends to nominate Melissa Dalton to be Air Force under secretary, according to a White House announcement today.

Dalton currently serves as the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs.

Dalton, like more than 300 defense nominees, is scheduled to run into Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) ongoing nomination blockade. Tuberville has vowed to keep his blanket hold in place unless the Defense Department changes its travel and leave policies for servicemembers seeking abortions. The Senate, however, has begun moving some senior DOD nominees on an individual basis.

Previously, Dalton served as principal deputy assistant defense secretary for strategy, plans and capabilities from January 2021 to March 2022.

Prior to joining the Biden administration, Dalton was an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

By John Liang
September 21, 2023 at 2:58 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on artificial intelligence, the AUKUS agreement, the Missile Defense Agency's Next-Generation Interceptor program and more.

Mara Karlin, assistant defense secretary for strategy, plans and capabilities, who is also performing the duties of the deputy defense under secretary for policy, reiterated at the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington this week that the Pentagon seeks to counter China by investing in cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence:

Pentagon official speaks about DOD's artificial intelligence goals

A senior Pentagon official spoke Wednesday about steps the Defense Department is taking to advance artificial intelligence.

The latest AUKUS news:

Australian official calls for easing of U.S. export controls on AUKUS Pillar II

The United States must loosen its export control system to enable closer collaboration under the AUKUS security partnership, an Australian defense official said today, underscoring "congressional changes" within all three nations as a key step to implementing the agreement's technology-focused second pillar.

The Missile Defense Agency is scheduled this month to conduct a preliminary design review of Lockheed Martin's NGI proposal and a corollary review of the Northrop Grumman-Raytheon NGI design is slated to begin as soon as January, according to the agency’s most recent published schedule:

DOD gears up for major review of Next Generation Interceptor designs; Lockheed up first

The Defense Department is set to begin reviewing Next Generation Interceptor designs, a major mid-point assessment in the $17 billion contest between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman that will determine whether the respective proposals are sufficiently mature to proceed with developing prototype intercontinental ballistic missile killers.

The House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee held a hearing this week on industry perspectives on defense innovation and deterrence:

Defense industry execs outline innovation concerns for House lawmakers

Top defense industry executives appeared before House lawmakers today to list steps they believe the Pentagon should take to streamline weapons system development and acquisition.

Document: House hearing on defense innovation and deterrence

The Pentagon this week set up a "Microelectronics Commons":

CHIPS Act DOD 'Microelectronics Commons' awardees announced

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks today unveiled the Pentagon's plans to create a stronger U.S. microchip industrial base by awarding several contracts to fund the establishment of eight "Microelectronics Commons" regional innovation hubs for prototyping, manufacturing and producing at scale.

By Nick Wilson
September 21, 2023 at 2:38 PM

The Senate voted 96-0 to confirm Gen. Eric Smith to become the next Marine Corps commandant, filling the service's top post after Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-AL) continuing hold on military nominations left the position vacant for more than two months.

While Tuberville continues to block the Senate’s normal confirmation process, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) scheduled individual votes for Smith and two other senior Defense Department officials this week, also confirming Air Force Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Gen. Randy George as the Army chief of staff.

Smith has served as the Marine Corps’ acting commandant since former Commandant Gen. David Berger retired in July at the conclusion of his four-year term. In this role, Smith has juggled the responsibilities of the service’s top two positions, shouldering the duties of commandant while continuing to manage the responsibilities of his prior role as assistant commandant.

Smith, who was initially nominated to serve as the 39th commandant in May, has said performing both roles at once is not sustainable and indicated the growing list of unconfirmed officials is a drag on Marine Corps readiness.

In an interim guidance published in August, Smith committed to continuing the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 trajectory and outlined accelerated modernization, naval integration and organic mobility as warfighting priorities.

In the Senate, Tuberville has unilaterally stalled more than 300 nominations across the Defense Department in opposition to a policy that provides leave and travel assistance for servicemembers seeking abortion services.

Until this week, Schumer resisted bringing individual nominations to the floor for consideration, warning the move could set a precedent that slows the nomination process further.

A Congressional Research Service report found it would take more than 30 days of around-the-clock work -- over 700 continuous hours -- for the Senate to confirm all of these nominees by individual vote, or about 89 days if Senators worked for eight hours a day.

Meanwhile, the Navy still lacks a confirmed service chief, with assistant Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti serving as the acting CNO while her nomination awaits Senate approval. The Air Force is also without a confirmed leader with Gen. David Allvin’s nomination pending.

By Dan Schere
September 21, 2023 at 12:54 PM

The Senate confirmed Gen. Randy George as the Army's 41st chief of staff Thursday afternoon by a 96-1 vote.

George was nominated by President Biden in April to succeed former Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville, who retired in early August. However, George’s nomination, along with that of more than 300 military nominations, was held up due to Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) blockade, based on the senator’s objections to the Pentagon’s leave and travel reimbursement policies for servicemembers seeking abortions.

With the Senate’s confirmation of George, he becomes the second military officer to be confirmed over Tuberville’s blockade. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), on Wednesday, scheduled individual votes for Air Force Gen. Charles “C.Q.” Brown, Biden’s nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, George and Gen. Eric Smith -- the nominee to be the Marine Corps’ next commandant.

The Senate confirmed Brown on Wednesday evening 83-11, and a vote on Smith’s nomination is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Lt. Gen. James Mingus, the director of the Joint Staff, was nominated in July to serve as the service’s next vice chief.

Since becoming acting chief following McConville’s retirement last month, George has essentially been doing two jobs due to Tuberville’s blockade, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth noted this week at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“The role of the chief and the role of the vice are both more than full-time jobs, and we have multiple examples of our general officers who are doing that,” she said.

George has served as the Army’s vice chief of staff since August 2022. His service also includes working as a military assistant to the secretary of defense, and tours of duty in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.