The Senate overwhelmingly approved the nomination of retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis to be the next Secretary of Defense shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday. Vice President Michael Pence swore him in shortly after the 98-1 Senate vote. “Every action we take will be designed to ensure our military is ready to fight today and in the future,” said Mattis in a message to Defense Department personnel. “Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances. Further, we are devoted to gaining full value from every taxpayer dollar spent on defense, thereby earning the trust of Congress and the American people. I am confident you will do your part. I pledge to you I’ll do my best as your Secretary.”
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.