Today in the Department of Defense, Thursday, May 19, 2011

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn have no public or media events on their schedules.

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Ashton B. Carter; Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Christine H. Fox; Director, Operational Test and Evaluation J. Michael Gilmore; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition David M. Van Buren and Program Executive Officer F-35 Lightning II Program Navy Vice Adm. David J. Venlet testify at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal 2012 and the future years defense program at 9:30 a.m. EDT in room SD-G50, Dirksen Senate Office Building.

British Maj. Gen. Phil Jones, director of the Force Reintegration Cell, International Security Assistance Force headquarters, will brief the media live from Afghanistan at 10:30 a.m. EDT, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to provide an update on the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will speak at 4:30 p.m. at the Deloitee Energy Conference at the Omni Shoreham, Washington, D.C.  Media interested in attending should contact Lt. Cmdr. Tamara Lawrence, SECNAV’s public affairs officer at 757-343-4230.