Senior DOD nominees advance to Senate, including Navy secretary

By Tony Bertuca / July 27, 2021 at 1:23 PM

Several nominees for senior Pentagon positions, including Navy secretary, are advancing to the full Senate for confirmation votes.

The Senate Armed Services Committee today voted to approve the nominations of Carlos Del Toro to be Navy secretary, Gilbert Cisneros to be under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, Kathleen Miller to be deputy Pentagon comptroller, Mara Karlin to be assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities, and Michael Connor to be assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

Connor's nomination has been forwarded to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, where lawmakers will have 20 days to address his nomination or it will be placed on the calendar for a vote.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) is also advancing Caral Spangler, nominated to be assistant secretary of the Army for financial management and comptroller, as a "privileged nomination."

"The nomination has been placed on the Executive Calendar under the heading 'Privileged Nomination -- Information Received' and will remain there for 10 session days," the committee said. "During this period, any senator may request the nomination be referred to the appropriate committee of jurisdiction, otherwise following the 10 session days the nomination will move to the 'Nominations' section of the Executive Calendar, allowing for confirmation of the nomination by the full Senate."

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