Defense Secretary Leon Panetta quashed talk that he would quickly bail out on the second Obama Administration, telling reporters during a flight to Australia Nov. 12 that he believes he has a responsibility to deal with the current fiscal and strategic issues facing DOD. He said, “My goal is to basically meet my responsibilities in terms of dealing with those issues [which he cited as “sequestration, budget issues, issues related to planning on Afghanistan”] and that’s the most important focus I have right now.” However, when pressed as to whether he would stay for the next four years, Panetta replied, “Who the hell knows?” (Pentagon transcript)
Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon, spent his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 pressing his civilian bona fides to lawmakers, with some pledging opposition to the waiver Austin would need to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary. Austin spent 40 years in the military…