According to a Pentagon release, former U.S. Representative from New York John McHugh was sworn in Sept. 21 as the 21st Secretary of the Army. President Obama nominated McHugh for the post in June, and the Senate confirmed him Sept. 16. He was the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. The Army also now has a new undersecretary, Joseph Westphal, who was assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Work from 1998 to 2001 and served briefly as acting Secretary.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
