The Pentagon said May 10 that President Bush will nominate Vice Adm. Eric T. Olson, for a fourth star and to head US Special Operations Command, replacing Army Gen. Bryan Brown, who plans to retire. Olson currently serves as SOCOM deputy commander. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first naval officer to head the 20-year-old command. The Army has dominated leadership of the special ops combatant command, with one exception: Air Force Gen. Charles Holland commanded SOCOM from Oct. 27, 200 to Sept. 2, 2003.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.