Today in the Department of Defense, Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates hosts an honor cordon to welcome Belgium’s Minister of Defense Pieter De Crem to the Pentagon today at 10:30 a.m. EST. The cordon will be held on the steps of the Pentagon River Entrance.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the Pentagon River Parking Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort to the cordon.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn has no public or media events on his schedule.

Army Col. Jeffrey Martindale, commander of Task Force Raider and 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, will brief the media live from Afghanistan at 10 a.m. EST in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to provide an update on current operations.  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.