New SECNAV sworn in

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate confirmed eight Defense Department nominees on Aug. 1, providing a boost to staffing after a long congressional stalemate in which Democrats used parliamentary tactics to stall President Trump’s nominees in protest of the handling of the health care debate. Among those confirmed by a voice vote was Navy Secretary Richard Spencer; Ellen Lord, under secretary of defense for acquisition; and Lucian Niemeyer and Robert Hood, assistant secretaries of defense. The vote doubles the number of Senate-confirmed nominees for DOD, which saw only seven other defense officials successfully navigate the process since January. Spencer is a former Marine Corps pilot and investment banker. He is a former member of DOD’s Defense Business Board and recently served on the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel. (Source: Defense News 08/02/17) On Aug. 3, Richard V. Spencer, a native of Connecticut, was sworn in as the 76th secretary of the Navy.