Senate panel approves LaPlante for DOD acquisition chief

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted today to approve the nomination of Bill LaPlante to become the Pentagon's acquisition chief.

During his nomination hearing last month, LaPlante said he believes the U.S. government should make new, one-time investments in the production of munitions and drones that can be sent to Ukraine to help hold off the ongoing Russian invasion.

LaPlante, who served as Air Force acquisition chief during the Obama administration, told the committee he believes the Pentagon needs “multiple hot production lines” for munitions, unmanned aerial systems, and other capabilities.

The committee also approved Erik Raven to be Navy under secretary, M. Tia Johnson to be a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and Marvin Adams to be deputy administrator for defense programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration.

The nominations now go to the full Senate for approval.