A new Pentagon directive bars the public affairs shops of the armed forces from taking about, or answering any questions concerning, the ongoing Quadrennial Defense Review. Until recently, a service could, if it wished, sketch out the “context” of QDR issues with reporters, often putting up their QDR point men to talk. No more. All press inquiries about the QDR are to be routed to the main DOD public affairs operation. When reporters call there, they are told nothing can be said until the QDR is finished, whenever that may be. The QDR results are supposed to be made public in February. More or less.
Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost—a trailblazer and one of the first 10 women to reach a four-star rank across the U.S. military—retired and passed control of U.S. Transportation Command to Air Force Gen. Randall Reed on Oct. 4, finishing an eventful tenure at TRANSCOM.