Senate authorizers move on DOD nominations

The Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday approved by voice vote the nominations of four people to senior Defense Department posts.

The committee approved the nomination of Michael Griffin to become under secretary of defense for research and engineering. Congress in the fiscal year 2018 defense authorization bill signed by the president last month mandated that the position of under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics be split up into two offices: under secretary of defense for research and engineering and USD for acquisition and sustainment. Current acquisition chief Ellen Lord is expected to move into the A&S post once the restructure is complete.

The committee also approved the nominations of Phyllis Bayer to be assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations, and environment; John Henderson to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment, and energy; and William Roper to be Air Force acquisition chief.

All the nominations "were immediately reported to the Senate floor following the committee's action," the panel said in a statement.