WASHINGTON — Jill Hruby, ex-administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, said last week the B61-12 gravity bombs have been “fully forward deployed,” meaning stationed by a potential conflict area to respond to threats.
“The new B61-12 gravity bombs are fully forward deployed, and we have increased NATO’s visibility to our nuclear capabilities through visits to our enterprise and other regular engagements,” Hruby said at the Hudson Institute in Washington just before resigning along with other officials appointed by President Joe Biden (D). “Our strategic partnership with the UK is very strong as is their commitment to their nuclear deterrent.”
The National Nuclear Security Administration announced early in January that it completed production for the B61-12 life extension program. The gravity bomb is the oldest in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and the B61 family of bombs is currently deployed from the U.S. Air Force and NATO bases.
The Senate on Thursday voted 51-49 to cut off debate and advance consideration of Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be the next secretary of defense, setting up a final vote on confirmation in the coming days.
Two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine.), broke with the rest of the GOP and joined all Democrats in voting against moving forward on Hegseth’s nomination, as new allegations have surfaced against Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon. “While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces,” Murkowski said in a statement.
The Senate must hold 30 hours of further debate on the nomination before moving on to a final confirmation vote. A version of this story was first published by Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily.
The head of the Department of Energy’s Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization appointed by former President Joe Biden departed the post. “Today marks my last day at the Dept of Energy as director,” Ron Pierce, announced on his LinkedIn page Jan. 16.
“It was an honor to be appointed and serve in the Biden Administration and under the leadership of Sec [Jennifer]Granholm. Thank you for the support and professionalism of my amazing staff,” Pierce said. Pierce, who retired as a major from the U.S. Army and has worked on veterans issues for the Democratic National Committee and is also the older brother of television and stage actor Wendell Pierce.
With the transition in Washington, D.C., Jamala Peyton, deputy director of the DOE office for small and disadvantaged business, has stepped into the top job. According to her bio, Peyton is a longtime fed with more than 26 years of procurement experience.
As Troy Meink awaits a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing as President Trump’s nominee to become Air Force secretary, the new administration named Gary Ashworth as the acting service secretary.
Ashworth is a member of the senior executive service (SES) who served as acting assistant secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment under former President Biden’s defense acquisition chief, William LaPlante. A version of this story was first published by Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily.
President Trump on Monday named Terence Emmert, the director of a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency office, to be the acting Secretary of the Navy until a permanent appointee is approved by Senate confirmation.
Emmert has been director of the DARPA Adaptive Capabilities Office since June 2023, which the agency said “helps program managers turn ideas into impact and transition new technologies into viable tools.”
In November, Trump announced his pick of campaign donor and financier John Phelan to be the next Secretary of the Navy. Phelan has no government, military or defense industry experience. As of publication time, the Senate has not scheduled a confirmation hearing for Phelan. A version of this story was first published by Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily.