SPYMASTER WARNS CONGRESS: CIA Director John Brennan testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee this morning, and according to his prepared remarks, he will warn the Islamic State is training and attempting to deploy operatives for further attacks on the West and are relying more on guerrilla-style tactics to compensate for their territorial losses
OBAMA TO ORLANDO: President Obama travels to Florida to meet with the victims of the Orlando nightclub massacre, along with their families and first responders. He’ll be accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden. Despite the critical condition of the some of the survivors still hospitalized, the death toll remains at 49.
Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre), National Security Writer Jacqueline Klimas (@jacqklimas) and Senior Editor David Brown (@dave_brown24). Email us here for tips, suggestions, calendar items and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work for whatever reason, shoot us an email and we’ll be sure to add you to our list.
Want to learn more about Daily on Defense? See our introductory video here.
RED CARPET FOR SAUDI MINISTER: Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomes Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman around noon today. In Pentagon parlance it’s called “an enhanced honor cordon.” In addition to the carpet on the River Entrance steps, there’s also a military band.
NATO’S LOOMING DECISIONS: Carter is just back from a two-day defense ministerial in Brussels, where allies committed to do more to battle the Islamic State and deter Russia. Jacqueline Klimas traveled with the defense secretary and reports the stage is now set for some big decisions at the NATO summit in Warsaw next month.
AIR FORCE NOMINEE: Air Force Vice Chief Gen. David Goldfein, tapped to be the next Air Force chief of staff, has his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee today at 9:30 a.m. The decorated fighter pilot was shot down over Serbia in 1999, and David Wilkes has the story and other insights into his career and priorities for the future.
BUBBLY METAPHOR: Meanwhile outgoing chief Gen. Mark Welsh told reporters yesterday that the replacement for the A-10 needs to be able to do several different things well. Well worth checking out David Wilkes’ story to see Welsh’s description of the “flying Coke machine.”
ROCKETS: Aerojet Rocketdyne received a $24 million contract to develop and test rocket propulsion for Army missile systems, the Pentagon announced yesterday.
HUEY REPLACEMENT: The House voted on several amendments yesterday to the defense appropriations bill, including money to replace UH-1N helicopters and upgrade A-10s. Today, the House tackles more contentious issues, such as closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.
WHAT DID HE REALLY MEAN? Donald Trump’s imprecise language has made him a target again. Lawmakers and vets went after Trump for comments some saw as accusing U.S. troops of pocketing money meant for Iraqi officials. Here are Trumps exact words: “Iraq, crooked as hell. How about bringing baskets of money — millions and millions of dollars — and handing it out? I want to know who were the soldiers that had that job, because I think they’re living very well right now, whoever they may be.”
A Trump spokesman explained he was talking about Iraqi soldiers, not U.S. troops. Still Virginia Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine had some choice words for the Donald. Al Weaver reports.
In other jump-on-Trump news, Sen. Marco Rubio said the would-be nominee’s Muslim ban wouldn’t have prevented the Orlando massacre, Robert King writes. “The killer was born in the same place Donald was: Queens.” Er, wasn’t that also Clinton’s talking point?
Trump will still get classified intel briefings, despite some of his fiery rhetoric, the White House said Wednesday, Nicole Duran reports. The question came up because President Obama said Trump’s rhetoric on terrorism is dangerous.
KIM’S WELCOME: Trump says as president, he would “accept” North Korean leader Kim Jong-un should he plan to visit to the United States. “Who the hell cares? I’ll talk to anybody,” he told a campaign rally in Atlanta. But, he says, he would definitely not fête the communist dictator at a state dinner at the White House.
SPACEX DRAMA: Our new favorite euphemism for a failed landing came up yesterday, when SpaceX announced its reusable booster rocket underwent a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”
Check out this video of the RUD. Those SpaceX types actually make it look fun.
RUSSIA’S BEHEMOTH ICEBREAKER: Russia has floated what is billed as the world’s biggest nuclear-powered icebreaker, as long as two football fields, and able to slice through ice 13-feet thick. It’s all about the shrinking polar ice, and the race to dominate the Arctic. A recent report suggested the U.S. is short at least six modern icebreakers.
NEW SAF/PA CHIEF: Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas was officially welcomed back to the Pentagon yesterday, as the new director of Air Force Public Affairs. The secretary of the Air Force, and the press corps for that matter, are counting on the experienced and respected public affairs officer to revitalize the embattled press desk. Thomas was previously the spokesman for former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey.
USS ARKANSAS: In the second ship-naming in as many days, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has picked USS Arkansas as the name for the newest Virginia-class attack submarine. The submarine, SSN 800, will begin construction in 2018 and is expected to join the fleet in 2023
THE RUNDOWN
Air Force Times: Legendary military columnist, author Bob Dorr dies at 76
AP: U.S. Troops Staying In Afghanistan? New Look At Reduction Plan
Defense News: USAF Has Big Plans, But Little Money, For ‘Warthog’ Replacement
Task and Purpose: New Spec Ops Dirt Bikes Combine Stealth And Speed
Defense News: Lockheed Goes on the Offensive in Canada’s F-35 Debate
Breaking Defense: Navy’s ‘Klingon Bird Of Prey’ Passes Key Test: LCS Trimaran
UPI: Lockheed gets $331.8 million GMLRS rocket contract
VOA: Pentagon Unleashes Cyber Effort to Counter Militants on Battlefield
Defense One: The West Must Respond to Russia´s Increasing Cyber Aggression
USNI News: Foggo: BALTOPS 2016 Includes More Anti-Sub, More Challenging Amphibious Operations
Stars and Stripes: Navy Faces ‘Balancing Act’ In Knowing When To End Alcohol Ban In Japan
AP: Documents: Image of chained, diapered detainees worried Bush
C4ISR & NETWORKS: Is Your Heartbeat Your New CAC?
Calendar
THURSDAY | JUNE 16
9 a.m. Hart 216. CIA Director John Brennan testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee. intelligence.senate.gov
9 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The Atlantic Council will discuss the progress of the Iran nuclear deal. atlanticcouncil.org
9:30 a.m. Dirksen G50. Senate Armed Services Committee will consider the nomination of Gen. David Goldfein to be the next Air Force chief of staff. armed-services.senate.gov
11 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The Heritage Foundation hosts a panel of speakers to discuss the role of religion in the rise of ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, etc. heritage.org
3 p.m. 1800 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., keynotes a discussion on Desert Storm and its veterans. brookings.edu
6 p.m. 1301 K St. NW. Michele Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy, and Kathleen Hicks, former principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, discuss Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy platform. hillaryclinton.com
FRIDAY | JUNE 17
1 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The Atlantic Council discusses a new national security space strategy. atlanticcouncil.org
SATURDAY | JUNE 18
10 a.m. Carney Auditorium, Dayton, OH. Critical role of 5th generation fighter aircraft in air dominance. armedservices.house.gov
MONDAY | JUNE 20
All day, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Center for a New American Security hosts its annual conference in D.C. conference.cnas.org
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS hosts a discussion on anticipating moves and countermoves in the South China Sea. csis.org
1 p.m. Los Angeles, CA. The Atlantic Council hosts Dr. Gregory Treverton, chairman of the U.S. National Intelligence Council, to discuss long-range global trends for the next president. atlanticcouncil.org
2 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Brookings Institute hosts Robert McDonald, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to talk about departmental reforms. brookings.edu
TUESDAY | JUNE 21
9:30 a.m. 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va. Randall Walden, director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, talks about acquiring capabilities more quickly. mitchellaerospacepower.org
10 a.m. Dirksen 342. Senate Homeland Security Committee will discuss the ideology of ISIS. hsgac.senate.gov
12 p.m. SVC 208-209. Lexington Institute hosts a Capitol Hill Forum on the National Guard’s role in cybersecurity for the U.S. power grid. lexingtoninstitute.org
12 p.m. 1150 17th St. NW. The Armed Service Committee staff members discuss challenges facing the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. aei.org
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 22
3 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Wilson Center hosts a panel to discuss the geopolitics of oil in the Gulf region in light of the Iran nuclear deal. wilsoncenter.org
3:30 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS hosts a panel of experts to discuss the future of U.S. Army missile defense. csis.org
THURSDAY | JUNE 23
7 a.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and Booz Allen host a daylong summit on the future of directed energy with a classified afternoon portion. csbaonline.org
9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Gen. Mark Milley, the Army chief of staff, speaks about the U.S. military strategy. csis.org
