DoDLive | Department of Defense Blog

Stavridis Addresses US, NATO Plans for Afghanistan

Filed under DoD News, Pentagon Channel by Ian Graham on February 1, 2010 at 1:19 pm {3 comments}

By Ian Graham

When Adm. James Stavridis, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and commander of United States European Command, entered the studio today it was, well, to be completely candid, anticlimactic.

I’ve gotten used to a certain amount of pomp and circumstance when meeting with higher-ups, and in case you didn’t read the last paragraph, Stavridis actually has the words “Supreme Commander” in his job title. Pretty high up, I’d say.

So when he came in with little fanfare and even less entourage, I was a bit surprised. Then, even though he had literally just gotten off a plane from Belgium, I was more surprised: he was cheerful, incredibly nice and seemed excited to talk about NATO’s plan in Afghanistan. Definitely not how I would act if I had just switched hemispheres only to land and go right back to work.

Stavridis very recently attended a conference in London, where 79 nations, international organizations and alliances (such as NATO) met to talk about Afghanistan’s future.

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Armed with Science: DoD ‘Wiki’ Increases Technical Collaboration

Filed under Uncategorized by on February 1, 2010 at 12:55 pm {no comments}

By Christen N. McCluney

Scientists traditionally share information by publishing their completed research studies in academic journals. But the pace and nature of technological change renders that process much too slow.

That’s why, in 2008, the Defense Technical Information Center launched a scientific and technical “wiki” Web site to increase real-time exchanges between experts across the Defense Department. Access to the wiki also is granted to scientists working in related government agencies and contracting firms. There now are more than 11,000 monthly users.

“DoD Techipedia is a site that we created to provide a forum for DoD scientists, engineers, policy makers as well as contractors, to have a more open, collaborative environment to discuss things as they [are] developing,” R. Paul Ryan, administrator of DTIC, explained during a Jan. 28 interview on The Pentagon Channel podcast, “Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military.”

To learn more, visit Defense.gov.

LISTEN live to the interview.

Read the transcript.

Defense Budget – Reflection of our Mission

Filed under DoD News by glenn.selby on February 1, 2010 at 12:40 pm {2 comments}

By Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer Robert Hale

Robert F. Hale, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer (Photo courtesy of the Department of Defense)

Earlier today, we released President Obama’s budget request for the Department of Defense for Fiscal Year 2011, which begins October 1.

The request asked Congress to approve a base budget of $549 billion, plus $159 billion to support our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. The grand total of our request is $708 billion. We requested another $33 billion as a supplemental to the FY 2010 budget to support 30,000 more troops for Afghanistan, which the president decided was needed back in December.

Now, I will be the first to acknowledge that that is a huge amount of money. I have spent my entire professional life working with Defense budgets and in DoD financial management, and I am still in awe whenever I think about the scale of our organization.

But the fact is, the Defense budget – like the Department itself — is a reflection of our mission. We can’t separate them.

Our budget sustains one of the largest, most complex, and remarkable organizations in the world. It provides pay and health benefits for an all-volunteer force of 3 million men and women, including more than 2 million in uniform. They are our greatest strategic asset, and caring for them is our highest priority, especially those who are injured in service to our country.

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A Chance Encounter Leads to a Great Experience

Filed under DoD News by glenn.selby on February 1, 2010 at 11:28 am {no comments}

Spc. Ricky Sanford (center) and his wife Stephanie pose for a photo with Ray Stanford, executive vice president of player personnel, on the field before the 2010 N.F.L. Pro Bowl in Miami, FL. Feb. 1. Ray met Ricky on during a chance encounter on a flight and invited Ricky and his family to the game. Photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class William Selby.

U.S. Army Spc. Ricky Sanford (center) and his wife Stephanie pose for a photo with Ray Anderson, executive vice president of player personnel, on the field before the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl in Miami, Jan. 31. Photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class William Selby.

By U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class William Selby

It’s 1:00 a.m. and I just arrived back at my hotel after the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl in Miami. The event was everything I thought it would be and more.

My passion always has and will always be the sport of football and apparently I have some company.

Yesterday, at the last practice before the showdown today, I met Ray Anderson, the National Football League’s executive vice president of football operations. One of Anderson’s colleagues had spotted me in uniform the day before and told me that he was doing something rather unique for a servicemember.

Before the Pro Bowl began, Anderson shared the story of how he met U.S. Army Spc. Ricky Sanford. Sanford, a 23-year-old Alabama native, is with the 4th BCT, 4ID, Fort Carson, Colo. Sandrod is currently stationed at Forward Operating Base Blessing in the Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

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Photo: Handshake Before the Game

Filed under DoD News by Administrator on February 1, 2010 at 10:31 am {no comments}

SAO TOME, Sao Tome and Principe (Jan. 29, 2010) Religious Programs Specialist 2nd Class Keble Thomas (right), along with other Sailors assigned to the guided-missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58), shakes hands with members of the Santonean Army before a soccer game between both services. Samuel B. Roberts is currently deployed in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West. APS is an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Africa to improve maritime safety and security with African partner countries. USS Samuel B. Roberts is homeported in Mayport, Fla. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Terry Spain/Released)

SAO TOME, (Jan. 29, 2010) Sao Tome and Principe Religious Programs Specialist 2nd Class Keble Thomas (right), along with other Sailors assigned to the guided-missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58), shakes hands with members of the Santonean Army before a soccer game between both services. Samuel B. Roberts is currently deployed in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West. APS is an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Africa to improve maritime safety and security with African partner countries. USS Samuel B. Roberts is homeported in Mayport, Fla. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Terry Spain/Released)