Senate panel advances senior defense nominees

The Senate Armed Services Committee today voted to approve the nominations of several key Pentagon nominees, including retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John Caine to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Other nominees approved by the committee include Troy Meink to be Air Force secretary, Michael Duffey to be under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Emil Michael to be under secretary of defense for research and engineering and Keith Bass to be assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.

The nominations now head to the full Senate for confirmation votes.