Readout of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl's Meeting With Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla

 Sept. 3, 2021

Department of Defense Spokesperson Eric Pahon provided the following readout: Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin H. Kahl spoke with Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla today to reaffirm the strength of the defense relationship between the United States and India. India is the only designated Major Defense Partner of the United States. The Foreign Secretary and Under Secretary underscored their commitment to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation to sustain a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The officials also discussed Afghanistan and a range of regional issues of shared interest, as well as key areas of defense cooperation across the Indo-Pacific and Western Indian Ocean region. The Foreign Secretary and Under Secretary agreed to continue coordination on a robust set of shared priorities ahead of this year’s U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

 Sept. 3, 2021 | BY JIM GARAMONE , DOD News

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. III Austin thanked Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini for his country's help in the evacuation effort from Afghanistan.

The two men held discussions at the Pentagon that also included threats from Russia, increased cooperation on the issues presented by China and strategies for the Middle East and Africa.

Italy has sent thousands of service members and Carabinieri to serve in Afghanistan over the past 20 years. A total of 53 died in service in the country. Italy is still supporting the effort, housing at-risk Afghans at Naval Air Station Sigonella. "It is a testament to the value of our long-term partnership," Austin said. "And we will continue to consult with Italy, our other NATO allies, our partners, and the broader international community on a way forward in Afghanistan."

Italy is home to thousands of U.S. service members from Naples to Vicenza to Aviano to Sigonella. Italy is one of America's closest allies and security partners, the secretary said. "You've been a gracious host to our forces in Europe and I've had the pleasure of serving alongside the Italian military over the course of my career in uniform," Austin told Guerini. "And I greatly respect the contributions and capabilities that Italy brings to our joint efforts."

The United States and Italy consult often on issues in the Middle East and Africa, and Austin said he wanted to get the Italian position on issues in those key areas. "We're grateful for Italy's contribution to peace and security there," he said. 

Overall, Austin wants to deepen the already deep relationship between the two militaries. Some of that will be in carrying out decisions made at the NATO Summit in June, while others will be just between allies.

Spotlight on NATO

Guerini expressed his personal sorrow and the sorrow of all Italians for the deaths of U.S. service members at the hands of the Islamic State in the Khorasan in August. He said the evacuation was only a success because of the American service members securing Hamid Karzai International Airport.

"I want to express my gratitude for the work done by the American armed forces to secure Kabul airfield, making it possible to implement the airlift for the evacuation of allied forces, and tens of thousands of Afghan cooperators," the minister said through a translator. "Thank you again for the great cooperation of the American Armed Forces, which was absolutely decisive, and for the logistics support you offer to the evacuation of so many Afghan citizens. This would have been impossible without the cooperation of the United States."

Related Transcript: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Italian Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini Opening Remarks at Pentagon Meeting

Sergeant Scan

 

Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Webber participates in training during Thracian Summer at Cheshnegirovo Air Base, Bulgaria, Aug. 27, 2021. Thracian Summer is a training event designed to enhance interoperability and assure regional allies and partners of the United States' unwavering commitment to unity.

Supply Check

 

Army Capt. Julie Goode, a clinical nurse specialist, checks medical supplies during COVID-19 response operations at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Miss., Sept. 2, 2021.

Sea Wave

 

Sailors aboard the USS Barry wave to the Royal Australian Navy HMAS Warramunga during Malabar 21, an exercise involving maritime forces from Australia, Japan, India and the United States, in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 29, 2021.

Prep Work

 

Army Sgt. Morgan Evans, a combat medic specialist, prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Fort Carson, Colo., Sept. 1, 2021. The vaccination site provides initial doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to soldiers and second doses of the Moderna vaccine for those completing their series.

Scenic Stallion Support

 

A Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter conducts hoist operations training at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 2, 2021.

Department of Defense Disestablishes Chief Management Office

 

Sept. 3, 2021

Pursuant to section 901(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2021 (Public Law 116-283), Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks has directed the transfer of each responsibility assigned to, and the personnel, functions, and assets of the former Chief Management Officer (CMO) of the Department of Defense to other DoD officials or organizations, effective Oct. 1, 2021.  In summary:

• The authorities of the CMO will revert back to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, as the Chief Operating Officer of DoD, and the functions and responsibilities of the former CMO will transfer to Office of the Secretary of Defense Principal Staff Assistants (PSAs).
• The Director of Administration and Management (DA&M) will be designated as the Performance Improvement Officer and serve as the senior official for Defense Reform under the Deputy Secretary. 
• The oversight of the Defense Business Systems will be shared by the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and the Chief Information Officer of the DoD. 
• The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (ATSD) for Intelligence Oversight (IO) will be combined with the Privacy Civil Liberty and Transparency (PCLT) functions under a new official called the ATSD (PCLT).

The realignments of former CMO responsibilities represent only the latest step in the ongoing efforts to improve strategic-level management and oversight at the highest levels of the department. The department will review these arrangements after one year to assess any potential need for adjustments.

More detail on the functional transfer of former CMO responsibilities can be found here.

Flag Officer Assignments

 

Sept. 3, 2021

The secretary of the Navy and chief of naval operations announced today the following assignments:

Rear Adm. Eugene A. Burcher will be assigned as vice commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.  Burcher most recently served as deputy chief of staff, Submarines, Maritime Command Headquarters, Northwood, Great Britain; and commander, Submarines, NATO, United Kingdom.

Rear Adm. (lower half) William L. Angermann will be assigned as reserve vice commander, U.S. Second Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia.  Angermann is currently serving as reserve deputy commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Kenneth R. Blackmon will be assigned as reserve director for Maritime Operations, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.  Blackmon is currently serving as deputy commander, Third Fleet, San Diego, California.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Gregory K. Emery will be assigned as commander, Navy Information Force Reserve, Fort Worth, Texas.  Emery is currently serving as deputy director, Warfare Integration Directorate, N2N6, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Jacquelyn McClelland will be assigned as vice director, Navy Staff, Washington, D.C.  McClelland is currently serving as commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, Norfolk, Virginia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Robert C. Nowakowski will be assigned as reserve vice commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet, Manama, Bahrain.  Nowakowski is currently serving as deputy commander, Navy Recruiting Command, with additional duties as deputy commander, Naval Education and Training Command Force Development, Millington, Tennessee.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Ryan B. Scholl will be assigned as deputy director, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Sustainment, Washington, D.C.  Scholl is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eight, Norfolk, Virginia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Larry D. Watkins will be assigned as reserve vice commander, U.S. Third Fleet, San Diego, California.  Watkins is currently serving as director, Network Engagement Team, U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida.

Capt. Bradley D. Dunham, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as reserve deputy commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.  Dunham is currently serving as chief of staff, Navy Reserve, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.

Capt. Dennis E. Collins, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, Norfolk, Virginia.  Collins is currently serving as commanding officer, Navy Reserve, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Detachment 401, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.

Capt. Mark F. Haigis, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as deputy commander, Naval Expeditionary Combat Command, Norfolk, Virginia.  Haigis is currently serving as deputy chief staff officer, Operations and Plans, Navy Reserve Chief of Naval Operations for Operations and Plans, Washington, D.C.

Capt. Scott W. Ruston, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as deputy commander, Naval Education and Training Command Force Development, Pensacola, Florida.  Ruston is currently serving as deputy commander, Navy Reserve, Navy Region Southwest Reserve Component Command, San Diego, California.

Capt. Douglas W. Sasse III, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as reserve vice commander, U.S. Fourth Fleet, Jacksonville, Florida.  Sasse is currently serving as reserve chief of staff, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego, California.

Capt. Michael J. Schwerin, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as deputy commander, Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee.  Schwerin is currently serving as commanding officer, Navy Reserve, Officer Training Command, Newport, Rhode Island.

Capt. David R. Storr, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as reserve deputy commander, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.  Storr is currently serving as Manager Navy Reserve Rapid Research and Development Detachment, Patuxent River, Maryland.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Italian Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini Opening Remarks at Pentagon Meeting

 Sept. 3, 2021

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Italian Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini

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SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Well, Minister Guerini, it's a pleasure to welcome you back to the Pentagon. I fully appreciate the fact that you were here about a year ago but it's great to see you again after the NATO Summit that we had in June.

Of course, you know from our last phone conversation that we've been extremely busy and focused on Afghanistan. So up front, I'd like to convey my deepest thanks to Italy for the close cooperation between our two countries to evacuate from Afghanistan tens of thousands of our citizens and partners and Afghans at special risk.

We are especially grateful that Italy is temporarily hosting Afghan evacuees at Naval Air Station Sigonella. It is a testament to the value of our long-term partnership. And we will continue to consult with Italy, our other NATO allies, our partners and the broader international community on the way forward in Afghanistan.

Now, Italy is one of our closest Allies and security partners, and you've been a gracious host to our forces in Europe and I've had the pleasure of serving alongside the Italian military over the course of my career in uniform.  And I greatly respect the contributions and capabilities that Italy brings to our joint efforts.

Our cooperation in NATO, in the Middle East, in Africa, and for two decades in Afghanistan, is key to our longstanding partnership. Italy is an exporter of security and we appreciate Italy's robust contributions to that cause, frequently in leadership and command roles.

Today, we'll talk about how to address increasing threats from Russia and challenges from the People's Republic of China. We'll also spend some time discussing our cooperation in Africa and the Middle East, and we're grateful for Italy's contribution to peace and security there.

Closer to home, we'll talk about implementing deliverables that we agreed upon at the NATO leaders summit in June. I'm also looking forward to exploring other areas where we can deepen our cooperation.

And Mr. Minister, I hope that your short visit to Washington will be a very productive one.  I'm looking forward to our time together and to deepening our partnership on defense issues.

MINISTER OF DEFENSE LORENZO GUERINI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR):  Thank you, Secretary Austin.  Thank you for this opportunity to meet you, which, for me, is very important to (inaudible) and further bring close the historical relations, the (inaudible) relations between the United States and Italy.

I'm very glad to have the opportunity to meet you in person after our NATO leader conferences.  And let me also thank you for your call about the evacuation from Afghanistan.

And I would like, in the first place, to express my personal condolences for the loss of so many military -- American military after the attack at Kabul airport on the 26th of August.  Please accept my sympathy. That is also the sympathy of my government and of the whole Italian people.

Let me also express my gratitude for the work done by the American Armed Forces to secure Kabul airfield, making it possible to -- to implement the airlift for the evacuation of Allied forces and of tens of thousands of Afghan cooperators.

And thank you again for the great cooperation of the American Armed Forces, which was absolutely decisive, and for the logistic support you offered to the evacuation of so many Afghan citizens. This would -- this would have been impossible without the cooperation of the United States.

Thank you to the United States for the leadership and for the great job they have always done for international security and for the burden that they have assumed on this occasion. Thanks for your bravery. Thanks for your courage.  Thanks for your ability.

Thank -- you have quoted the cooperation we had with you in Sigonella for the evacuation of so many Afghan citizens, and of the presence of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen in Italy. This is further testimony of the great relationship, of the great cooperation, of the great friendship between Italy and the United States.

We have many things to talk about -- the growing threats, cooperation in Africa, cooperation in the Middle East. We have an agenda full of common issues, including our relationship at work within NATO that we must and will implement.

Thank you for testifying the importance of our cooperation, of our relationship, of our friendship.