Outgoing DIA Director to Workforce: 'Keep Telling Truth to Power'

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2017 — "Keep telling truth to power" was the only advice the outgoing director of the Defense Intelligence Agency had for his successor and for the DIA workforce during a change of directorship ceremony here yesterday.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Vincent R. Stewart turned over the reins to Army Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley during the ceremony at the agency's Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling headquarters.

Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan represented Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at the ceremony and presided over it. He praised Stewart for his concentration on providing intelligence to the nation's warfighters and said Stewart worked to ensure the American military's ability to fight and win.

Praise for Agency's Team

"If Secretary Mattis were here, I know he would recognize your alignment with his goals, he would thank you for your leadership, and, as the first Marine at DIA's helm, your role in operationalizing the voice of the warfighter," Shanahan told the outgoing director.

The deputy secretary praised Stewart for the team he has built and led at the agency.

"The team is comprised of true patriots who show unfaltering dedication to the difficult mission of the DIA," he said. "You and the team have worked tirelessly to provide top-notch, actionable intel to the warfighter and key insights for the strategic leadership."

He noted that Stewart had strengthened integrated intelligence centers at the combatant commands. He modernized operational capabilities to enhance lethality and he stood up the Defense Debriefing Service to help make the unknown knowable.

Outreach to Allies and Partners

Shanahan also praised Stewart for his outreach to allies and partners around the world. "These relationships help fill capacity gaps and build confidence in our shared missions," he said. "DIA makes our military more lethal by providing decision advantage to leadership."

Shanahan told the DIA community that leaders count on them to handle challenges as diverse as North Korea to the civil war in Syria and that the agency has to adjust and evolve to the new domains of cyber and space.

"Most of you will never know the extent of your efforts," he said. "But your integrity gives weight to the intel you produce and earns you respect in the eyes of those who receive your sound judgments."

Advice for DIA Workforce

Stewart made a last request of the workforce at DIA. "No matter what the challenges, the adversity or the objections, always speak truth to power, no matter the cost," he said. "Speak truth through your actions. Speak truth through your analysis. Speak truth through your tradecraft and standards. Never lose sight of it, because unless we are forthright, honest and candid we cannot fulfilll our oath."

Stewart is moving to be the deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command. Ashley is coming to DIA after serving as the Army's deputy chief of staff for intelligence.

USNS Comfort Arrives in Puerto Rico to Aid Maria Relief Efforts

By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ernest R. Scott Navy News Service

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 4, 2017 — The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived here yesterday to assist in humanitarian relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

During a news conference here today, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said the Comfort's arrival gives officials the flexibility to help in more hurricane-affected areas.

Whole-of-Government Response

While in San Juan, the hospital ship will host a summit with key stakeholders to synchronize efforts for the ship's mission throughout the area.

Comfort is a seagoing medical treatment facility that currently has more than 800 personnel embarked for the Puerto Rico mission including Navy medical and support staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as over 70 civil service mariners.

Trauma Facilities

The hospital ship has one of the largest trauma facilities in the United States and is equipped with four X-ray machines, one CAT scan unit, a dental suite, an optometry lens laboratory, physical therapy center, pharmacy, angiography suite and two oxygen-producing plants.

Comfort's primary mission is to provide an afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facility to the U.S. military that is flexible, capable, and uniquely adaptable to support expeditionary warfare. Comfort's secondary mission is to provide full hospital services to support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide.

Face of Defense: From Infantry to Optometry, Soldier Helps Thousands

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kamaile Casillas Pacific Air Forces

TAM KY, Vietnam, Oct. 3, 2017 — After spending three years in a combat role as an infantryman stationed with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Army Sgt. Joshua Moffett decided to turn in his rifle to care for patients with eye problems, leading him here to Pacific Angel exercise 17-2.

Moffett, 24, hails from Deptford, New Jersey, and he served as an infantryman from 2012 to 2015.

"My brother, who was also an infantryman, had a lot of influence on my choice to join the Army," he said.

But when his re-enlistment popped up two years ago, Moffett chose to step outside of his previous combat role and follow another career path. "I wanted to try something different, and the medical field is very different from what I was used to as an infantryman," he explained. "It's a different world in the medical field. What I do now is treat patients with any type of eye disease, and help them to be able to see better."

As part of a five-member optometry team during Pacific Angel 17-2, a joint and combined humanitarian assistance engagement, Moffett assisted in screening patients and providing them with glasses to help them in their day-to-day lives. "It was a really satisfying experience being able to see the difference we made from before they got here to after they left," Moffett said. "And it's nice to know that we were able to help as many people as we did."

Working With Other Services

Moffett also mentioned that it was nice to work with the sister services. "It's just good to see how they operate, see if they do anything different," he said. "Collaboration is better, because working together we're able to see what methods work best and provide the best quality of care that we can."

Although he is still contemplating whether or not to make the Army a career, Moffett said, he continues to make the best of the opportunities presented to him as a soldier. "I wanted to explore the world when I came into the service," he added. "I'm stationed in Hawaii, and the Army brought me to Vietnam, where I was able to help thousands of people. Needless to say, the Army has been good to me."

Pacific Angel exercises have built positive relations through interactions such as these for the last decade in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mongolia, Laos, Tonga, Nepal and Papua New Guinea.