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  • Trump Names Acting Secretary of Defense, Designates Acting Service Secretaries > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News


    President Donald Trump named Robert Salesses as acting secretary of defense pending the confirmation of Pete Hegseth for the position. Salesses assumed the functions and duties of the office at 12:01 p.m. yesterday.

    The Senate Armed Services Committee has sent Hegseth’s nomination to the full Senate, which is expected to act on the nomination later this week. 

    Salesses is a retired Marine Corps officer and a member of the senior executive service. He previously served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense integration and defense support of civil authorities. 

    He is a senior executive service member who has been serving as the deputy director of Washington Headquarters Service. According to his bio, Salesses managed a portfolio of complex and integrated operational services to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Military Departments, Defense Agencies, Congress and the Executive Office of the President.

    In addition to Salesses, the White House announced that Mark Averill will serve as acting secretary of the Army, Terence Emmert as acting secretary of the Navy and Gary Ashworth as acting secretary of the Air Force. Averill is the head of the Army’s Office of the Administrative Assistant. Emmert served as DOD’s principal deputy chief technology officer for mission capabilities. Ashworth served as DOD’s acting assistant secretary of defense for acquisition. 

    All of the acting individuals were sworn in yesterday. 



    In a recent announcement, President Trump has named Christopher C. Miller as the Acting Secretary of Defense following the resignation of Mark Esper. In addition, Trump has designated Acting Service Secretaries to oversee the various branches of the military.

    This move comes amidst a period of transition and uncertainty within the Department of Defense, as Trump continues to make changes to his administration in the final weeks of his presidency. Miller, who previously served as the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, brings a wealth of experience in national security and defense policy to his new role.

    The designation of Acting Service Secretaries will ensure that each branch of the military has strong leadership in place to address any challenges or threats that may arise. These individuals will work closely with Miller and the rest of the Defense Department leadership to ensure the safety and security of the United States and its allies.

    As the country prepares for a new administration to take office in January, the appointment of Miller and the Acting Service Secretaries will help to ensure a smooth transition and continued stability within the Department of Defense. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

    Tags:

    1. Trump administration
    2. Acting Secretary of Defense
    3. Acting Service Secretaries
    4. U.S. Department of Defense
    5. Defense Department News
    6. Defense Secretary appointment
    7. Trump administration appointments
    8. Defense Department updates
    9. National security news
    10. Military leadership changes

    #Trump #Names #Acting #Secretary #Defense #Designates #Acting #Service #Secretaries #U.S #Department #Defense #Defense #Department #News

  • DOD names officials temporarily helming key tech offices as the Pentagon awaits new leadership


    Several familiar faces who steered some of the Pentagon’s major technology and cybersecurity efforts over the last few years are operating in senior-level executive roles in acting capacities, as officials wait to see who the Trump administration will appoint to permanently lead key offices, multiple sources told DefenseScoop.

    President Donald Trump has nominated former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as defense secretary, and billionaire investor Stephen Feinberg to be deputy SecDef in his second term. Both men need Senate approval. If confirmed, they and the White House will have the option to name new officials or keep on existing staff for certain top Defense Department positions.

    In conversations over email this week, sources revealed who is currently functioning in a few of those key roles between now and the arrival of DOD’s new bosses.

    “Acting Chief Information Officer is Ms. Leslie Beavers,” a spokesperson told DefenseScoop late Tuesday.

    Beavers, who retired from the Air Force as a reserve brigadier general, was tapped as acting CIO in July 2024 after John Sherman’s departure. She previously served as Sherman’s deputy and helped oversee multiple high-stakes, enterprise IT initiatives inside DOD.

    A Pentagon spokesperson also confirmed that Gurpreet Bhatia is temporarily serving in dual-hatted roles as acting deputy CIO for cybersecurity and DOD’s chief information security officer. Before working at the Pentagon, Bhatia led the National Security Agency’s engagements with foreign partners, among other senior government roles.

    Defense acquisition expert Radha Plumb assumed the role of DOD’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer in April 2024. In a recent interview ahead of her planned departure from the department, Plumb told DefenseScoop that Principal Deputy CDAO Margie Palmieri was set to serve as the acting chief of the office in the interim until Trump’s pick is named.

    Personnel in the CDAO told DefenseScoop Wednesday that the hub is largely operating as if Palmieri is its director this week. Pentagon spokespersons did not confirm that she’s officially leading the organization.

    Separately, sources at the Defense Innovation Unit told DefenseScoop this week that former Apple executive Doug Beck continues to head the organization, where he took the helm in April 2023. Historically, “the DIU director is not a politically appointed role,” one official noted.

    Brandi Vincent

    Written by Brandi Vincent

    Brandi Vincent is DefenseScoop’s Pentagon correspondent. She reports on emerging and disruptive technologies, and associated policies, impacting the Defense Department and its personnel. Prior to joining Scoop News Group, Brandi produced a long-form documentary and worked as a journalist at Nextgov, Snapchat and NBC Network. She grew up in Louisiana and received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.



    The Department of Defense (DOD) has announced that several officials will be temporarily helming key technology offices as the Pentagon awaits new leadership.

    This move comes after the departure of several top officials, including former Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy and former Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios. In the interim, acting officials have been appointed to ensure continuity in the department’s technology initiatives.

    Among those named to temporary positions are John Sherman, the Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer, who will serve as the Acting Chief Information Officer. Acting Chief Technology Officer is currently unannounced.

    The DOD is facing significant challenges in the realm of technology, including cybersecurity threats and the need to modernize its infrastructure. These temporary appointments will help ensure that crucial technology initiatives continue to move forward as the department awaits new leadership.

    Stay tuned for updates as the DOD works to fill these key technology positions with permanent appointments.

    Tags:

    1. Department of Defense
    2. Pentagon
    3. Key tech offices
    4. DOD officials
    5. Temporary leadership
    6. Acting officials
    7. Interim leadership
    8. Pentagon leadership changes
    9. Defense technology
    10. Government appointments

    #DOD #names #officials #temporarily #helming #key #tech #offices #Pentagon #awaits #leadership

  • Trump names acting Defense secretary with Hegseth not yet confirmed


    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has named an acting defense secretary because his choice to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.

    Robert Salesses, deputy director of the Pentagon’s Washington Headquarters Service, will fill in as acting secretary of defense, and three other career Defense Department civilians will be filling in as acting heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

    To serve in the post s, the incoming Trump administration needed senior executives at the Pentagon who had already been confirmed by the Senate. Salesses is a retired Marine who served in the Gulf War and earned a Bronze Star.

    He has been leading the Washington Headquarters Service, which includes all of the capital region support services, including facilities management and the office of general counsel and others that support the military branches and Pentagon leadership.

    Hegseth could see his nomination advanced by the Senate Armed Services Committee as early as Monday, but because of the number of nominees that need to be approved, the full Senate may not take up his nomination until later this week.

    In addition, Trump has tapped Mark Averill, who was the administrative assistant to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, to be the acting secretary. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Averill has been a senior career civilian since June 2009.

    Terence Emmert, who has been the principal deputy chief technology officer for mission capabilities, will be the acting Navy secretary. He served in the Navy as an aviator and has broad experience in research and testing.

    And, Gary Ashworth, who has been working in a temporary position as the assistant secretary for acquisition, will be the acting Air Force secretary. Ashworth spent more than 20 year in the Air Force and headed an acquisition squadron during his final assignment.

    Trump, in his inaugural address, indicated some of his earliest executive orders would involve the military, including a potential additional deployment to the U.S.-Mexico border to “finish” construction of the border wall, as well as the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion training initiatives.

    There are currently about 2,500 National Guard and Reserve forces serving on active duty orders at the border. That total does not include Guard troops there under state National Guard deployments. U.S. Northern Command, which is in charge of troops under federal orders at the border, said 2,500 is what it is currently authorized to maintain there.

    “The service members provide detection and monitoring, data entry, training, transportation, vehicle maintenance, and warehousing and logistical support for all 12 months. The authorization also includes light rotary wing aviation support for aerial reconnaissance in support of CBP personnel on the ground,” NORTHCOM said in a statement.

    The command “is working closely with the Joint Staff and the Department of Defense and stands ready to conduct the homeland defense mission.”

    There are no active duty troops working on the border right now, but in limited cases some in leadership posts perform certain command and control functions.

    NBC first reported Salesses’ appointment.

    Copyright
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    President Trump has announced his pick for acting Defense secretary following the resignation of Mark Esper. Christopher C. Miller, who previously served as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, will take over the role in an acting capacity.

    However, Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who was rumored to be in the running for the position, has not yet been confirmed for the role. Hegseth, a vocal supporter of Trump, has been a prominent figure in conservative media and has been praised by the President for his loyalty and support.

    It remains to be seen if Hegseth will be officially appointed as the Defense secretary, but for now, Miller will be leading the Department of Defense in the interim. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

    Tags:

    1. Trump administration
    2. Acting Defense secretary
    3. Patrick Shanahan
    4. Pete Hegseth
    5. Defense department
    6. Trump cabinet
    7. National security
    8. Secretary of Defense
    9. Pentagon
    10. Trump appointees

    #Trump #names #acting #Defense #secretary #Hegseth #confirmed

  • Braxton Berrios’ girlfriend Alix Earle names one quirk that she can’t stand


    Quirks can be a turning point in a romantic relationship. And on Thursday, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios’ girlfriend, Alix Earle, specifically named one quirk she cannot stand.

    Earle discussed this quirk on the “Hot Mess” podcast and added that her relationship with Berrios would not have been the same had he had this quirk.

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    “I think about it at times, like Braxton he drinks his water and it’s quiet,” Earle said. (32:21) “But, like some people, it must be like the anatomy, make a really loud noise. And, like for me, I don’t know if I’d be able to date him. Like now, if he started gulping, I wouldn’t break up with him. But, like in the beginning, it would make things different.”

    Earle previously made headlines for her views on dealing with trollers on social media. Earle claimed she developed a “thick skin” for trolling, as she has been on social media for so long.

    Braxton Berrios’ girlfriend Alix Earle opened up about dealing with social media trolling

    As a long-time social media influencer, Alix Earle has faced multiple encounters with social media trolling over the years. However, she has developed a “thick skin” against these trolls. The SI model talked about the same during the Jan. 16th episode of “Hot Mess:”

    “I do an interview or someone else posts a video of me or a clip of me and like reading for the first time, people being like, ‘she’s so mid or she’s so this or she’s so that,’ I was like, ‘Oh my God. Oh my God.’ And then I’m realizing like I don’t need to be, like I never claimed.” [25:14]

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    “That’s what gets in your head because I’m like, ‘Wait, was I supposed to be like Margot fu***ng Robbie? I’m literally this normal girl from New Jersey. I mean, social media is like a whole another piece. It has taught me to definitely have thick skin, that’s for sure.”

    Earle was among the Los Angeles residents who left their houses and accommodations due to the recent wildfire. The SI model later recapped her “devastating” experience with emergency evacuation in LA.