Senate confirms DoD policy No. 2

WASHINGTON – The Senate confirmed David Trachtenberg to be the principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy by a 79-19 vote Tuesday.

Trachtenberg, who was announced as the nominee for the role back in March and had been stuck waiting a final vote in the Senate since July, helps fill a key empty seat at the Pentagon.

RELATED

'One hand tied behind your back': Why DoD's empty policy chair matters

Nine months into the Trump administration, the Pentagon remains understaffed, with a vacancy that experts worry is impacting the ability of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to execute his agenda.

By Aaron Mehta

Trachtenberg was most recently president and CEO of Shortwaver Consulting, which focuses on national security issues. He is a former House Armed Services Committee staffer and, most notably, served as principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for international security policy from 2001 to 2003. He also did a stint as vice president and head of strategic analysis at CACI-National Security Research.

He is viewed as a proponent of increasing missile defense capabilities and pursuing a harder line against Russia.

There is currently no undersecretary of defense for policy, with nominee John Rood having only just been nominated last week. As a result, Trachtenberg will slide into that job in an acting capacity, with Robert Karem, who was confirmed as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs in May and has been serving as the acting USD-P since, will move back down a spot.

RELATED

Rood named as pick for top Pentagon policy job

The White House has announced its intent to nominate John Rood as undersecretary of defense for policy, perhaps the Pentagon’s most important vacancy.

By Aaron Mehta

More In Pentagon

Chinese, Russian long-range bombers make reciprocal base visits

Defense News geolocated an image showing a Tu-95MS bomber taking off at night to a location northeast of Hangzhou-Jianqiao airbase.

Pentagon’s strategic capital office to spur investment in defense tech

The new office will help the Pentagon leverage private investment to overcome the "valley of death" problem that often derails technology programs.

LMI acquires Synaptech to enter fast-growing space business

By moving into the sector, LMI said it's seeking to provide input and technologies to all domains of the armed forces.

Space Force must adapt to strengthen commercial ties, Raymond says

Former Chief of Space Operations Jay Raymond, in his first public appearance since retiring, emphasized the importance of commercial partnerships.

Raytheon wins $1.2 billion surface-to-air missile order for Ukraine

The U.S. Army has awarded Raytheon what could be worth up to $1.2 billion to deliver six more surface to air missile systems for Ukraine.