Grady confirmed as vice chairman

The Senate voted last night to confirm Adm. Christopher Grady as the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Grady, whose term will last four years, will succeed Gen. John Hyten, who retired in November.

During his confirmation hearing, Grady pledged to work to accelerate the Pentagon's notoriously slow acquisition process, while also guarding against military "parochialism."

Grady, who will now become chairman of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, also said he would stand against “mission creep” whenever possible.

“We do have a tendency to Christmas tree things a little too much,” he said during his hearing. “Simplicity can be sublime in many perspectives and from a technology perspective we should look for that.”