Maj. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins will assume command of the Defense Information Systems Agency next Wednesday during a ceremony at Fort Meade, Md., the agency’s headquarters. He will receive a third star for this new assignment. Hawkins has been deputy director of command, control, communications, and computer systems on the Joint Staff since last July. He was DISA’s vice director from September 2009 up until then. Hawkins will replace Army Lt. Gen. Carroll Pollett, who led DISA since December 2008. Pollett is retiring after a 37-year military career. DISA is a combat support agency that provides real-time information technology and communications support to the President, vice president, Defense Secretary, military services, and combatant commands. (DISA release)
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.