The Pentagon has bowed to service wisdom when it comes to consolidating medical operations, issuing a statement Tuesday that says it has decided on a “new approach for governance and management of the military health system” and adding that the “concept does not seek a total medical joint command structure.” Air Force leaders made the case earlier this year that removing control over the operational aspects of its health care program was a non-starter. Under the new concept “command authority remains with the military services and combatant commands” and such things as education and training, medical research, and logistics are to be consolidated over the next two years.
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff touted his highly unusual background for the job as an asset and reaffirmed his commitment to stay apolitical during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1.