The February 2012 Defense Department document outlines DOD's fiscal year 2013 multiyear procurement criteria for various programs, including Navy shipbuilding (DDG-51, Virginia-class submarine), missiles (Evolved Sea Sparrow), combat aircraft (F/A-18E/F and EA-18G), helicopters (MH-60R/S) and the V-22 Osprey.
In a Feb. 15, 2012, memo, the Defense Department inspector general's office announces it will undertake an audit of contracts supporting the Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System.
In a Feb. 10, 2012, memo, the Defense Department inspector general's office announces it will undertake an audit of the Ballistic Missile Defense System's targets program.
In a Feb. 9, 2012, memo, the Defense Department inspector general's office announces it will undertake an audit of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's ethics program.
In a March 7, 2012, statement, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces it is asking for congressional permission to sell $300 million worth of C-17A Globemaster engines to the United Kingdom.
In a March 5, 2012, internal message to service officials, Vice Adm. John Bird, the director of the Navy staff, outlines a planned staff realignment "to improve our ability to make budget decisions and manage programs with a focus on warfighting capability (i.e. warfighting first) and total ownership cost." Also includes a briefing slide showing the realignment time line.
On March 6, 2012, the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee held a hearing on the Pentagon's fiscal year 2013 missile defense budget. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing as well as a subcommittee memo previewing the hearing. Also includes the opening statement of subcommittee Chairman Michael Turner (R-OH) and the prepared testimony of Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy Bradley Roberts, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategic and Tactical Systems David Ahern and Michael Gilmore, head of the Pentagon's operational test and evaluation office.
On March 6, 2012, the Air Force released an accounting of the manpower reductions in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and four overseas territories that are a direct result of force-structure changes recommended in the fiscal year 2013 budget request. The document details changes to the active-duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Reserve.
On March 5, 2012, the State Department issued a fact sheet on the 42nd anniversary of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
In a Feb. 13, 2012, letter, the Defense Department inspector general's office announces a new assessment of the quality management system for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
In a March 1, 2012, memo, acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Miller gives the Pentagon's assistant secretary for homeland defense and Americas' security affairs the antiterrorism (AT) program portfolio.
On March 1, 2012, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on U.S. Pacific Command and the fiscal year 2013 defense budget. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing as well as the opening statement of committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) and the prepared testimony of PACOM chief Adm. Robert Willard.
On March 1, 2012, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on U.S. European and U.S. Africa commands and the fiscal year 2013 defense budget. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing as well as the prepared testimony of Navy Adm. James Stavridis, head of EUCOM and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Army Gen. Carter Ham, head of AFRICOM.
In a Feb. 3, 2012, reprogramming memo, Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale asks congressional approval to shift $48 million to the Military Intelligence Program.
On March 1, 2012, the House Appropriations defense subcommittee held a hearing on the Navy's fiscal year 2013 budget request. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing.
The Feb. 13, 2012, briefing slides outline Army Training and Doctrine Command's "Capabilities Manager" concept.
On Feb. 28, 2012, the Defense Department inspector general's office issued a report regarding the leaks of "sensitive compartmented information" to the news media.
On March 2, 2012, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta held a town hall meeting with members of the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, KY.
On March 2, 2012, acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller gave a speech in Vilnius, Lithuania about arms control in the information age.
On Feb. 29, 2012, the House Budget Committee held a hearing on the Pentagon's fiscal year 2013 spending request. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing as well as the prepared testimony of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey.
On Feb. 29, 2012, the House Armed Services emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee held a hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal year 2013 science and technology programs. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing, plus the prepared testimony of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Zachary Lemnios; Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Mathew Klunder; Army Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Marilyn Freeman; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Deputy Director Kaigham Gabriel; and Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science, Technology, and Engineering Steven Walker.
On Feb. 29, 2012, the House Appropriations energy and water development subcommittee held a hearing on the National Nuclear Security Administration's fiscal year 2013 nuclear weapons activities budget request. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing featuring NNSA Director Thomas D'Agostino, NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs Donald Cook, NNSA Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Applications Brig. Gen. Sandra Finan as well as D'Agostino's prepared testimony.
In a Feb. 12, 2012, memo, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter issues a revised Defense Department chief information officer executive board charter. Also includes the old April 2005 charter.
In a Feb. 27, 2012, request for information published in Federal Business Opportunities, U.S. Special Operations Command "seeks information from industry for a Medium Range Precision Strike System (MRPSS)."
On Feb. 29, 2012, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the fiscal year 2013 defense budget request and how it relates to U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing as well as the prepared testimony of Navy Adm. James Stavridis, head of EUCOM and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe; and Army Gen. Carter Ham, chief of U.S. Africa Command.
The Feb. 29, 2012, Government Accountability Office report finds that the "uncertain political and security situation" in Yemen "challenges U.S. efforts to implement a comprehensive strategy" toward that country.
On Feb. 28, 2012, the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the Pentagon's fiscal year 2013 spending request. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing as well as the prepared testimony of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey.
On Feb. 28, 2012, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the Air Force's fiscal year 2013 budget request. Includes excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing, plus the opening statements of committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) as well as the joint prepared testimony of Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.
On Feb. 28, 2012, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the fiscal year 2013 defense budget request and how it relates to U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command. Includes the opening statement of committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MO) as well as the prepared testimony of PACOM chief Adm. Robert Willard and TRANSCOM chief Gen. William Fraser. (Editor's Note: Excerpts from the question-and-answer portion of the hearing will be added later.)
In a Feb. 28, 2012, letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) presented Panetta with "16 audit reports that uncovered egregious waste and misconduct at the Department of Defense and called for accountability and the recovery of wasted money."
The December 2011 list outlines the Pentagon's current major defense acquisition programs.
In a Feb. 27, 2012, letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John McCain (R-AZ), the adjutants general of all the U.S. states and territories express their concern over the Air Force's fiscal year 2013 budget request, specifically how it affects the Air National Guard.
In a Feb. 24, 2012, notice posted on Federal Business Opportunities, Naval Air Systems Command formally advises industry that within a month it may release a competitive broad agency announcement "for additional studies" of the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike System (UCLASS) concept, for which the Navy has earmarked $2.3 billion in its new five-year spending plan, including $122 million in fiscal year 2013.
The Feb. 27, 2012, the Government Accountability Office report states that "the formal start of the VXX presidential helicopter program has been delayed, as finding an acceptable solution has proved elusive."
In a Feb. 27, 2012, statement, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces it has notified Congress of a proposed $105 million foreign military sale of "80 AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block II All-Up-Round Missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support."
The November 2011 report issued by the Pentagon's top weapons tester found that the Navy Multiband Terminal, built by Raytheon to modernize communications between satellites and the service's ships, submarines and land-based operations centers, is not operationally suitable.
In a Feb. 1, 2012, memo, Navy Chief Information Officer Terry Halvorsen writes that the service intends to consolidate and conduct Navy and Marine Corps cyber training, exercise and test and evaluation events within the Defense Department's National Cyber Range.
In a Feb. 16, 2012, request for information, the Army seeks "potential solutions to provide up to (100) one hundred semi-autonomous mechanical robots to provide logistics support to squad-sized dismounted patrols."
In a Feb. 24, 2012, report, the Government Accountability Office finds that "guidance and progress measures are needed to realize benefits from changes in the Defense Department's Joint Requirements Process."
On Feb. 23, 2012, the Association of the United States Army held its annual winter conference.