Nomination Hearing

The Senate Armed Services Committee plans to hold a hearing next week to consider the nominations of Army Gen. Raymond Odierno to become head of U.S. Joint Forces Command and Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin to become the commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq.

Odierno, the current commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq, was nominated for his next post by President Obama on May 24. Austin, who was nominated to replace Odierno on May 18, is serving as Joint Staff director, according to a Pentagon statement.