Gordon England has been serving as the Acting Deputy Defense Secretary since May 2005, but he also retained his leadership of the Navy. On Dec. 29, England formally resigned as Secretary of the Navy. The new Navy Boss, Donald Winter—confirmed by the Senate on Nov. 10—takes up the mantle today. For the five day interim, the Navy’s Deputy Secretary, Dionel M. Aviles, served as Acting Secretary.
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held meetings with defense leaders from the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea during a trip to the Indo-Pacific this week.