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closePresident Obama was, if nothing else, an active commander in chief last week. Before and after Wednesday’s Veterans Day holiday, military issues took center stage on the White House agenda.
Monday, Obama issued an executive order that will commission a Veterans Employment Office within most agencies of the federal government.
“These offices will be responsible for helping veterans identify employment opportunities within those federal agencies, providing feedback to veterans about their employment application status and helping veterans recently employed by these agencies adjust to civilian life,” he said in a White House news release.
According to the latest available figures, about 480,000 veterans are employed by the federal government.
Wednesday, Obama laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery before speaking at the Virginia’s cemetery’s amphitheater.
Obama stopped by Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska on Thursday on his way to a week long tour of Asia.
While highlighting that his administration is increasing the military’s baseline budget — “including spending on the Air Force” — Obama promised to “spend our defense dollars wisely.”
“We’re cutting tens of billions of dollars in waste and projects that even the Pentagon says it doesn’t need,” Obama said.
OBAMA NOMINATES UNDERSECRETARY
Obama nominated Erin Conaton, an adviser to Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, to serve as the next undersecretary of the Air Force. The position has not been filled since summer 2007.
Conaton has served with Skelton’s office and the House Armed Services Committee since 2001. If approved by the Senate, she will oversee Air Force acquisitions.
The subject of Air Force acquisitions has been a hot-botton topic at the Pentagon recently. It’s likely, given the large cuts in Air Force programs such as the F-22, that Conaton also will serve as an Obama administration liaison to Congress.
MACON-BORN GENERAL GETS SECOND STAR
Army Brig. Gen. R. Mark Brown, who was born in Macon, was promoted to major general last month. Brown is the grandson of former Macon Fire Chief Bernard H. Brown.
Brown’s immediate family no longer lives in the area, but several extended family members reside in Middle Georgia.
689TH WING UNITS UNITS PASS INSPECTION
The 3rd Combat Communications Group and the 35th Combat Communications Squadron passed a readiness inspection last week with “satisfactory” and “excellent” ratings, respectively. Both units, while located at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, are subordinate elements of the 689th Combat Communications Wing at Robins Air Force Base.
The 689th Combat Communications Wing was recently activated to join the Department of Defense’s cyber defenses.
The inspection is another step for the unit toward full operational readiness.
“I am very proud of the men and women of the 3rd CCG and 35th CBCS as they continue to exemplify superior expeditionary communication support to the warfighter,” said Col. Theresa Giorlando, 689th Combat Communications Wing commander, in an Air Force news release.
To contact military writer Thomas L. Day, call 744-4489.
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