Tony Bertuca

2 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich has been nominated to serve as the supreme allied commander of NATO forces in Europe, in addition to serving as chief of U.S. European Command. Grynkewich is currently serving as director of Joint Staff operations (J-3). The news follows speculation that the Trump administration, amid moves to shift its focus to the Indo-Pacific region, was considering giving up the position of SACEUR for the first time since its creation after the end of World War II.

2 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

President Trump has nominated Vice Adm. Charles Cooper to become the next chief of U.S. Central Command, according to a Pentagon notice. Cooper is currently CENTCOM’s deputy commander. Trump has also nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson to be the head of U.S. Africa Command. Anderson is currently serving as director of Joint Force Development (J-7). Additionally, Trump has nominated Vice Adm. Frank Bradley to be chief of U.S. Special Operations Command.

2 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) today unveiled the GOP's bill to increase defense spending by $150 billion using budgetary reconciliation, calling the amount a "major opportunity," but said it is not adequate in relation to the Trump administration's flat fiscal year 2026 Pentagon budget request. “This is a start but it’s far from paid for,” he said during a Defense Writers Group call. The amount sought by the White House Office of Management and Budget is...

2 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

The Senate GOP has released its $150 billion defense reconciliation bill, which will be included in the chamber’s version of the “Big Beautiful Bill” that must eventually be aligned with one that narrowly passed the House last month. The defense bill, released by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), differs from the amounts supported by the House in several areas, though it would authorize the same amount ($25 billion) for the Golden Dome missile defense program.

2 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Tony Bertuca

“I hope this damn thing works . . .” It’s the caption of a military cartoon that Robert Behler, the Pentagon's former chief weapons tester, says once hung outside his office -- depicting a World War I soldier preparing to throw a hand grenade. The job of Behler’s former organization -- the office of the director of operational test and evaluation -- is to make sure the grenade, along with every other key weapon system the Pentagon purchases, works when... Not a subscriber?