Share this page!

Aaron Mehta Profile picture
Twitter logo
14 Dec, 4 tweets, 2 min read
If Lloyd Austin becomes Defense Secretary, who is the right person to fill the Pentagon's No. 2 role?

I looked at a few candidates, and more broadly, at what kind of experiences might best fit the requirements.

defensenews.com/smr/transition…
Some think the Deputy Secretary job should be cast to best counter the weaknesses of the secretary's experience. Got a policy SecDef? Put in someone who knows how the building works. Got a wonky SecDef? Go for a policy person.
However, Rudy deLeon, a former DepSecDef at the end of the Clinton administration, says not to overthink it.
In the story I name the two people that multiple sources say are the likely contenders for DSD, but yes, I'm making you click to find out who they are.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Aaron Mehta

Aaron Mehta Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @AaronMehta

Aaron Mehta Profile picture
15 Dec
FRIENDS, some news:

This weekend, I made and consumed one of only 1,000 Kraft Mac and Cheese Pumpkin Spice kits in existence.

What follows is a thread. #PumpkinSpiceKMC Image
Some background: as many of you know, I have strong, correct opinions about seasonal foods. Specifically, that pumpkin flavored items should not be available before Oct. 1.

This in turn has led to many on this website trolling me for my - I must stress, correct - opinions.
Enter Kraft Mac and Cheese, which in September tweeted the following:

Read 14 tweets
Aaron Mehta Profile picture
29 Jul
In opening remarks, Esper making the case that moving forces out of Germany is good for the alliance and Russian deterrence. That's a hard sell, given all the feedback from Europe about it.

11,900 troops out of Germany. Still 24,000 in Germany.
6,400 troops return to US, and then begin doing rotational deployments.

2,000 servicemembers to Belgium for HQ stuff.

4,500 2nd Cav returns to US as other Stryker units do rotations in Black Sea region

2,500 airmen in UK will remain there

Fight squadron reposition to Italy
Plan to rotate Army 5th Corp headquarters to Poland once a burden sharing deal is in place. May be opportunities for "additional forces" to move to "Poland and the Baltics."

Could see some moves "begin within weeks. Others will take longer."
Read 13 tweets
Aaron Mehta Profile picture
24 Jul
JUST IN: President Donald Trump has officially signed off on new rules making it easier to export military #drones to other countries (as we broke last night.) Details here via @ValerieInsinna , with updates to come defensenews.com/industry/2020/…
Our reporting from yesterday previewing this: defensenews.com/industry/2020/…
State Department's Chris Ford now talking with @RLHeinrichs at Hudson Institute about MTCR changes.
Read 16 tweets
Aaron Mehta Profile picture
3 Sep 19
Former SecDef Jim Mattis, speaking in DC, says while he had major concerns about modernization when he came in, "I left with almost no concerns about the trajectory we were on." Cites 5G, hypersonics as key areas.
Mattis says he met Rex Tillerson for the first time in late December 2016 when in DC. Mattis told him "I want the diplomats in charge of foreign policy.... he just reached over that table with that big hand of his and we shook hands." Adds they had weekly breakfasts.
This was an interesting exchange.
Read 10 tweets
Aaron Mehta Profile picture
14 May 19
WOW. Never seen this before. Following today's briefing where the UK's deputy commander of Inherent Resolve said he did not see increased threats from Iran, U.S. Central Command just put out this statement saying that "runs counter" to what the Pentagon sees.
To say this is unusual would be an... understatement. Not only does this undercut an allied commander in the battlefield, his comments were made on a Pentagon briefing.
I'm flabbergasted. And fascinated that we didn't get a walkback under OIR's name, but rather the U.S. on its own saying "That extremely close ally who we organized a briefing for? Yeah he's full of it."
Read 5 tweets
Aaron Mehta Profile picture
13 Nov 18
Holy cow. That's a HUGE win for Mattis. He and Ricardel have clashed since day one, and she was seen as someone working behind the scenes to push him out. BACKGROUND: defensenews.com/pentagon/2017/…
"The president became involved in that decision at the urging of first lady Melania Trump, whose staff battled with Ms. Ricardel during the first lady’s trip to Africa last month over seating on the plane and requests to use National Security Council resources..."
That's interesting. Ricardel has a rep as a very skilled bureaucratic infighter, but hasn't handled the politics of things well (see Mattis). I almost wonder if Melania's team wanted to use NSC resources incorrectly and Ricardel refused without thinking of the politics.
Read 6 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @AaronMehta has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @AaronMehta!

Read all threads by @AaronMehta