Today in the Department of Defense, Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates hosts an honor cordon to welcome Mongolian Minister of Defense Luvsanvandan Bold to the Pentagon today at 9:45 a.m. EDT.  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.

Commander, U.S. European Command/Supreme Allied Commander-Europe Navy Adm. James Stavridis and Commander, U.S. Strategic Command Air Force Gen. C. Robert Kehler testify at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on U.S. European Command and U.S. Strategic Command 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.

Italian Brig. Gen. Marcello Bellacicco, commanding general for Regional Command West, will brief the media live from Herat, Afghanistan, at 10:30 a.m. EDT, 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.

Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Robert Hale; Under Secretary of the Army Joseph Westphal; Under Secretary of the Navy Robert Work and Under Secretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton testify at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Department of Defense efficiencies initiatives at 2:30 p.m. EDT in room SR-232A, Russell Senate Office Building.