The Senate Armed Services Committee leadership announced the members who will head the panel’s six subcommittees during the 113th Congress. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) will chair the airland subcommittee and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) will serve as the panel’s ranking member, according to the Feb. 19 release from SASC Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.). Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) will lead the emerging threats and capabilities panel, with Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) as its top Republican. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) will run the personnel subcommittee; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) will be its ranking member. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) will steer the readiness and management support panel, with Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) serving as the top GOP member. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) will oversee the seapower subcommittee; Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is its ranking member. Rounding out the subcommittee leadership assignments is Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), who will manage the strategic forces panel. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) is the top Republican on that subcommittee.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.