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The Defense Department inspector general's office announced yesterday a new project that will review the notification procedures surrounding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent hospitalization.

“The objective of the review is to examine the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities and actions related to the Secretary of Defense’s hospitalization in December 2023-January 2024,” the notice said.

This report follows Austin’s hospitalization in the intensive care unit on Jan. 1 after an “elective medical procedure” on Dec. 22 left him in “severe pain,” according to Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman.

According to Walter Reed Medical Center officials, where the surgery occurred, Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had a “minimally invasive” prostatectomy that left no complications at time of discharge. However, a urinary tract infection caused complications and required Austin to return to the hospital on Jan. 1.

Ryder said that “certain authorities” were transferred to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on Jan. 2, although Hicks and Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, didn’t find out about Austin’s hospitalization until Jan. 4.

This lack of communication, which Ryder attributes to Kelly Magsamen, Austin’s chief of staff, being sick with the flu and out of office, drew criticism from lawmakers about the chain of command and the delayed notification time.

The department launched a new 30-day review of DOD notification processes pertaining to the assumption of defense secretary duties, according to Ryder, which is a separate review than the IG’s.

The IG said it will “assess whether the DOD’s policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership.”

Army units must "preserve themselves, be resilient and withstand enemy attack," according to an updated doctrine document.

“Effective protection preserves combat power and enables freedom of action,” the doctrine, released on Tuesday, states. “Commanders and staffs must understand their Soldiers, the enemy and the operational environment at each echelon to prioritize protection for applying critical resources and coordinating support in the conduct of combined arms operations.”

“When units are unable to protect themselves, commanders coordinate with higher command for protection support,” the doctrine adds.

Titled “Protection,” the doctrine outlines how Army units must protect themselves to preserve warfighting functions and which capabilities to use in crisis situations, low-intensity conflict, large-scale operations and other scenarios.

Broken into four chapters, the doctrine discusses protection fundamentals, protection during operations, integrating protection capabilities and protection cells.

“Protection determines the degree to which potential threats or hazards can disrupt operations and initiates active and passive measures to prevent and mitigate those disruptions,” the doctrine reads.

The doctrine outlines that protection measures must be comprehensive, integrated, layered, redundant and enduring.

Commanders must understand the operational environment through risks and opportunities as well as protect personnel from environmental and health hazards, it adds.

“The protection function manifests itself differently at each echelon, through competition below armed conflict, crisis and armed conflict,” the doctrine reads.

Theater armies conduct protection operations that secure ports, communication lines, critical facilities and the flow of forces and materials, the doctrine reads, while smaller units implement protection in their existing capabilities.

“Commanders integrate and synchronize capabilities of one warfighting function with other warfighting functions to achieve objectives and accomplish missions,” the doctrine adds.

Units should also collect intelligence, use targeting information, assess risks and manage information, the doctrine states.

The last chapter outlines how larger units should use subunits (called protection cells) to advise, visualize and outline protection requirements to the commander.

The doctrine follows an earlier version, published in 2019.

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from this week's Surface Navy Association annual symposium plus coverage of the Missile Defense Agency needing a deputy director and more.

We start off with coverage from this week's SNA symposium:

Navy developing 'Global Maritime Response Plan' in preparation for high-end conflict

The Navy is developing a new "Global Maritime Response Plan" that will enable naval forces to rapidly transition from peacetime to wartime operations if a high-end conflict begins, according to Adm. Daryl Caudle, the head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Delay on CVN-82 could have negative effects, Newport News executive warns

A delay in awarding a contract for future aircraft carrier CVN-82 would have negative effects on the supply chain and production of other infrastructure like submarines, a Newport News shipbuilding executive told reporters Monday.

(Read our full SNA symposium coverage.)

The Missile Defense Agency has been mandated by Congress to reinstate a deputy director:

MDA required to reinstate deputy director position, must be two-star uniformed officer

The Missile Defense Agency, which limped along last year without a Senate-confirmed three-star director for an extended period during which some of its top projects were nominated for budget cuts, is reinstating a post eliminated as part of a 2020 organizational overhaul: a deputy director who must be a two-star general or flag officer.

Michael Horowitz, the deputy defense assistant secretary for force development and emerging capabilities, said at a CSIS event this week that Replicator is a great demonstration of how the department is launching initiatives to tackle challenges:

DOD policy official details Replicator update and international AI agreement opportunities

The Defense Department's Replicator initiative appears to be on track to achieve its goals with a defense official expressing optimism at a Center for Strategic and International Studies webcast today that an international political declaration about artificial intelligence responsibility will gain more signatures.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have ongoing coverage of the Pentagon's recently released Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program rule:

Pentagon details process to submit CMMC assessment results as part of information collection request

The Defense Department is asking for input on the process to report assessment results under its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program and proposed parameters to address potential gaps.

Powered by Microsoft's HoLoLens headsets, the Integrated, Immersive, Intelligent Environment is an "augmented reality space simulation" that will enable Space Force users to interact in a space-like environment with orbital objects on display in real-time:

SSC renews Microsoft contract to build I3E prototype for Guardians' readiness

Space Systems Command has renewed its contract with Microsoft to develop a new immersive simulated environment to increase Guardians' readiness for current and future space situations, according to a Jan. 5 announcement.

The national defense and Navy budget is on an "unsustainable course," Sen. Angus King (I-ME) told attendees gathered at today's annual Surface Navy Association Symposium. The speech follows months of uncertainty around the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act and funding appropriations.

“We’re on an unsustainable course, everyone knows that, not everybody knows how to fix it, but the budget issues are real and there’s not going to be a time where everybody is going to say, ‘Oh, we have an extra $100 million for shipbuilding’ -- I don't think that’s going to happen anytime soon,” King said.

King also called for the modernization of the nuclear triad, including the Air Force’s B-21 strike stealth bomber, the Columbia-class submarine and the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system. Strengthening these programs is necessary for deterrence, he added.

“If we have a nonexistent or weak nuclear deterrent, it invites aggression,” the senator continued.

King also highlighted ongoing industrial base challenges, especially as the Navy develops the DDG(X) next-generation warship, meant to succeed the current Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers.

The industrial base “can’t turn off and on,” King said, and cooperation between the Navy and private sector when it comes to design and development of these ships can “be very useful and have positive budgetary outcomes.”

Multiyear procurement is also a tool that proves beneficial for taxpayers and the industrial base, King said.

With President Biden signing the FY-24 NDAA into law in December, no funding has been appropriated yet, with the Pentagon currently operating under stopgap continuing resolutions until Feb. 2.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who has been hospitalized since Jan. 1, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a statement from Walter Reed Medical Center officials.

Austin underwent a "minimally invasive" prostatectomy at Walter Reed to “treat and cure prostate cancer” on Dec. 22 and was discharged without complications, the officials said. But Austin experienced complications from a urinary tract infection that led him to be hospitalized on Jan. 1.

“His prostate cancer was detected early, and his prognosis is excellent,” according to a statement from Dr. John Maddox, Trauma Medical Director, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, Center for Prostate Disease Research of the Murtha Cancer Center Director, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

Austin was transferred to the intensive care unit on Jan. 2. Doctors later discovered Austin was suffering from “abdominal fluid complications impairing the function of his small intestines.”

“This resulted in the back up of his intestinal contents which was treated by placing a tube through his nose to drain his stomach,” the doctors said. “The abdominal fluid collections were drained by non-surgical drain placement.”

Austin has “progressed steadily” and his infection has cleared.

Doctors said they anticipate Austin will make a full recovery though it can be a lengthy process.

The doctors said Austin never lost consciousness and never underwent general anesthesia.

Prior to now, the Pentagon has not released any specific information about Austin’s condition.

Austin and his staff, meanwhile, have faced criticism from lawmakers for failing to immediately notify the White House and Congress about his condition, with some Republicans calling for his resignation.

Austin has released a statement taking responsibility for the lack of transparency regarding his absence and Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, has apologized for not alerting the public to Austin’s condition shortly after he learned of it on Jan. 2. President Biden was not made aware of Austin's condition until Jan. 4.

Ryder said Austin’s chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, was sick and unable to immediately notify the National Security Council about Austin’s absence.

The doctors, meanwhile, note in their statement that prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer among American men, impacting one in every eight -- and one in every six black men -- during their lifetimes.

“Despite the frequency of prostate cancer, discussions about screening, treatment and support are often deeply personal and private ones,” the doctors said. “Early screening is important for detection and treatment of prostate cancer and people should talk to their doctors to see what screening is appropriate for them.”

Ryder, during a Pentagon press conference, said Austin is in full contact with his staff and continues to monitor U.S. military operations worldwide.

Ryder said the department has launched a new 30-day review of the department’s notification process for assumption of the duties of the defense secretary.

The Defense Department awarded RTX a $345 million contract to produce 1,500 StormBreaker bombs, some of which will be sold in foreign military sales.

The GBU-53/B bombs, previously called Small Diameter Bomb II, will be purchased primarily by the Air Force, according to a DOD announcement last month. Breaking down the funding at the time of the award, $284.5 million comes from the Air Force, $58 million from the Navy and $2.1 million from foreign military sales.

DOD expects the bombs will be delivered by the end of August 2028.

The StormBreaker bombs are fielded on the F-15 Eagle and F/A-18E/F SuperHornet, and testing is underway to field on each of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter variants, according to an RTX news release.

The Joint Program Office expects the bombs to reach initial operational capability on the F-35 in fiscal year 2025, spokesman Russ Goemaere said.

The StormBreaker program was at risk in 2022 when the manufacturer of a needed microchip announced it would cease production. RTX spokeswoman Alyssa Shaffer said the program was able to purchase all of the needed chips, which are used to integrate the military M Code GPS signal.

Unit costs for the bomb increased by more than 20%, above the Nunn-McCurdy significant cost threshold, triggering a notice to Congress in 2022. The program has since been rebaselined, according to FY-24 budget request documents.

As instability grows in the Middle East, the Navy is considering deploying more Littoral Combat Ships to the Mediterranean and Red Sea to expand U.S. naval presence in the region, the commander of Naval Surface Forces said Friday.

A string of missile and drone attacks on U.S. warships has spurred the Navy to consider increasing the number of hulls in the Red Sea, Vice Adm. Brendan McLane affirmed, saying Freedom-variant LCS Indianapolis (LCS-17) is already operating in the area.

“It certainly is possible, long-term, to be able to use our LCS from both coasts, the Freedom-class and the Independence-class, really worldwide,” McLane told reporters ahead of the Surface Navy Association’s National Symposium.

Despite continued attempts by the Navy to retire LCSs early -- the most recent 30-year shipbuilding plan looks to decommission seven of the ships over the next three years, including two in fiscal year 2024 -- the service has been working to boost the offensive firepower of the LCS fleet.

By FY-26, The Navy plans to outfit all trimaran-hulled Independence ships with the Naval Strike Missile -- an anti-surface cruise missile with a range of up to 300 nautical miles -- and equip all monohull Freedom-variant ships with the missile by FY-32.

The Navy has also indicated it is considering equipping LCSs with Tomahawk missiles following an October demonstration in which Savannah (LCS-28) test-fired a Standard Missile-6 using a containerized launch system.

“The exercise demonstrated the modularity and lethality of Littoral Combat Ships and the ability to successfully integrate a containerized weapons system to engage a surface target,” Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson told Inside Defense Friday. “The exercise will inform continued testing, evaluation and integration of containerized weapons systems on afloat platforms.”

The addition of these offensive strike capabilities would expand the LCS’s firepower and add new relevance for the ships, originally designed for near-shore operations, in a fight against a near-peer adversary.