Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced today that the president has made the following nominations:
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte for reappointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. Borgschulte is currently serving as deputy commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Quantico, Virginia.
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Christian F. Wortman for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as commanding general, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Wortman is currently serving as the commanding general, 3d Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan.
Navy Vice. Adm. Yvette M. Davids for reappointment to the grade of vice admiral, with assignment as deputy chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, Strategy, and Warfighting Development, N3/N5/N7, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Davids is currently serving as superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.
Navy Rear Adm. Jeffrey J. Czerewko for appointment to the grade of vice admiral, with assignment as deputy chief of Naval Operations for Personnel, Manpower, and Training, N1, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and Chief of Naval Personnel, Arlington, Virginia. Czerewko most recently served as commander, Naval Education and Training Command, Pensacola, Florida.
Navy Rear Adm. John E. Dougherty IV for appointment to the grade of vice admiral, with assignment as commander, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland. Dougherty is currently serving as commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division/ chief engineer, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.
Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael S. Sciretta for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Sciretta is currently serving as director, Maritime Operations, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.
Space Force Lt. Gen. Shawn N. Bratton for appointment to the grade of general, with assignment as vice chief of space operations, U.S. Space Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Bratton is currently serving as deputy chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
HASC Marks National Defense Authorization Bill
Edited by Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor
Arlington, Va. — The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) filed the bill for the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, the bill’s leaders, Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Sen. Jack Reed (D- R.I.) announced in a July 16 release.
Some announced naval-related provisions are listed below:
Authorizes procurement for not more than five Columbia-class submarines.
Authorizes a block buy of up to 15 Medium Landing Ships (LSM) to support testing and experimentation of the Marine Littoral Regiment formation.
Limits funding for TAGOS Ship unless the Secretary of the Navy provides information on the Navy’s management of the program and an assessment of alternative solutions for the mission.
Requires the Navy, in implementing the Medium Landing Ship and Light Replenishment Oiler programs, to utilize a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) acquisition strategy, employing commercial design standards, construction practices, and an external entity to contract for construction.
Exempts unmanned surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles from the Senior Technical Authority requirement and limits certain technical requirements from the Chief Engineer of the Naval Sea Systems Command without prior approval of the program manager.
Modifies certification requirements of operational demonstrations for propulsion and electrical systems of large and medium unmanned surface vessels to increase industrial base participation.
Limits funding to certain Navy-developed software for autonomy and command and control of unmanned surface vessels.
Directs a briefing to the congressional defense committees to prioritize innovative, commercially driven solutions to deliver a scalable medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) capability that meets the urgent needs of the fleet while fostering a competitive industrial base.
Requires the Navy to move leadership for conventional surface ship maintenance to the Type Commanders, delegates decision-making authority to project managers, port engineers, and ship commanding officers, and directs a new contracting strategy that emphasizes workload stability and collaborative planning.
Requires the Navy to investigate, and where feasible qualify and fully integrate, 23 advanced technologies and processes into Navy surface ship readiness.
Supports amphibious warship production and readiness by limiting funding of the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Defense if the 30-year shipbuilding plan does not comply with the statutory requirement for 31 amphibious ships, 15 defines “temporarily unavailable” within the 31 amphibious ship requirements, and requires a plan to maintain and extend the service lives of amphibious ships
Requires DOD to develop a comprehensive plan to establish a government-controlled open mission systems computing environment for all variants and blocks of the F–35 aircraft operated by the DOD.
Directs the Navy and Air Force to conduct a comparative study, independent of the air vehicle manufacturer, on the two propeller systems on the C-130J platform.
Accelerates development of the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile and creates a supplementary parallel pathway for rapid fielding.
Strongly encourages the Secretary of Defense to invite the naval forces of Taiwan to the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, as appropriate, and requires a notification and justification if the Secretary chooses not to do so.
Requires the Navy to develop options for two sources of domestic solid rocket motors in the Navy Modular Missile program.
Directs a briefing on opportunities for the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate to complement innovation efforts by Naval Special Warfare Command for research, experimentation, and prototyping of unmanned maritime vessels.
Authorizes personnel end strength for the active component at 344,600 for the Navy; 172,300 for the Marine Corps; 57,500 for the Navy Reserve; 33,600 for the Marine Corps Reserve; and 7,000 for the Coast Guard Reserve.
MANILA, Philippines – The commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and the Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps will co-host the 11th annual Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Manila, July 8-10, 2025.
PALS 25 brings together senior Marine Corps, naval infantry, and military leaders from allied and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific. The event is an important opportunity to enhance personal and professional relationships amongst the region’s amphibious and maritime community through face-to-face engagements.
PALS continues to be guided by the motto, “Stronger together,” emphasizing the importance of cooperation and coordination when facing a range of challenges, from natural disasters to complex security situations.
“PALS provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, ensuring that when challenges arise, we’re aligned and ready to act,” said Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. “It’s about building trust, fostering collaboration, and preparing for the complex scenarios we may face. In this region, we know that collective strength is our greatest asset, and through events like PALS, we ensure that we’re ready to respond together, as one.”
PALS provides a forum for amphibious leaders to exchange ideas and share best practices, improving the collective ability to work together across a range of missions and scenarios. The experience and expertise assembled at PALS facilitates collaboration among allies and partners from around the world in support of a free-and-open Indo-Pacific region.
The PALS 25 schedule consists of key leader engagements, panel discussions, and briefs to engage senior leaders on critical topics such as leveraging emerging technologies for littoral operations, logistical challenges in disaster relief missions, and the role of information operations in the modern maritime environment. In addition to these discussions, delegations will present on technology-based solutions for maritime domain awareness and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as amphibious force contributions to multinational security cooperation.
“We are fortunate that the PALS participants bring a wealth of knowledge and diverse experiences, which is a vital asset as we shape our own force development and modernization plans,” said Maj. Gen. Vicente Blanco, Commandant, Philippine Marine Corps. “The Philippines takes pride in co-hosting this distinguished gathering, and as we face future challenges, let us approach them with renewed purpose, strengthened partnerships, and united resolve.”
Established by MARFORPAC in 2015, PALS continues to gather a growing list of nations. Since the symposium’s development, several ally and partner militaries co-hosted, including Japan, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Korea, and for the first time this year, Republic of the Philippines. The growing list of co-hosts demonstrates the depth of commitment among allies and partners to a more capable combined force across the Indo-Pacific.
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific is the largest operational command in the Marine Corps. Pacific Marines serve as an expeditionary force-in-readiness, and they operate as air-ground-logistics teams and are forward positioned and actively employed throughout the Indo-Pacific every day.
Securing the Backbone: The Defense Industrial Base
PHOTO BY: Air Force Staff Sgt. Marco Gomez
By Ryan Caughill, President, Western New York Council, Navy League of the United States.
“You can’t fight tomorrow’s war with yesterday’s plans.”
In the summer of 2018, I completed my internship at Moog Inc., one of the United States’ premier defense contractors. My role was in Environmental Health & Safety, but my mission went deeper: I was tasked with modernizing and guiding emergency management planning across an organization that was deeply integrated into the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and yet, lacked a dedicated emergency management function.
Like my time later at M&T Bank, this experience left a lasting impression. It showed me that even companies at the forefront of defense technology can have blind spots when it comes to continuity, resilience, and crisis preparedness.
[While this article isn’t just about my singular experience, but a holistic and general overview,] that’s what makes the Defense Industrial Base one of the most paradoxical critical infrastructure sectors in America: incredibly advanced, but dangerously lacking.
The Backbone Behind the Uniform The Defense Industrial Base is more than just tanks, missiles, or aircraft. It’s an expansive network of over 100,000 private companies that provide products, services, logistics, and technologies to support the U.S. military.
This includes:
Weapons systems and munitions
Aerospace components and military-grade software
Advanced electronics and cyber capabilities
Research and development institutions
Transportation and supply chain networks
Small manufacturers producing critical, often irreplaceable, parts
Some of these are Fortune 500 giants. Many are small, family-owned machine shops in rural communities. All are vital.
But here’s the problem: there is no unified resilience standard across the DIB. And that’s a problem hiding in plain sight.
The Vulnerabilities No One Wants to Talk About During my time at Moog, I saw firsthand how emergency management often sits outside the core of DIB corporate culture. Not out of apathy, but due to the sheer scale and complexity of operations. Many companies have excellent safety and security programs, but few have comprehensive crisis management systems. Fewer still have trained emergency managers or business continuity professionals guiding cross-functional coordination across cyber, physical, and operational risks. This isn’t to say they don’t exist, I’ve met some, and they do a really great job.
That makes this sector vulnerable in ways most people don’t understand.
The DIB is:
Extremely decentralized: A single failed supplier can halt delivery of critical weapons platforms.
Highly classified: Cyber breaches can compromise national defense secrets, yet many companies, especially smaller ones, lack mature cyber defenses.
Logistically fragile: Long-lead items, global supply chains, and just-in-time manufacturing leave little room for error.
Resource-limited: Many smaller firms simply don’t have the bandwidth or expertise to build robust resilience programs.
Worse yet, we take it for granted that these companies – because of what they do – are already hardened. That’s not always true.
Why This Sector Isn’t Taken Seriously — Until It’s Too Late The Defense Industrial Base occupies an odd place in the national consciousness. We respect the military. We fund the military. But we rarely consider who makes the military work.
The supply chains, R&D labs, fabrication shops, and logistics hubs that build and sustain America’s warfighting capability are not invincible. And yet, the DIB isn’t regularly treated like critical infrastructure in the traditional emergency management sense , even though it underpins our strategic deterrence, military readiness, and wartime surge capacity.
That disconnect has consequences. If a natural disaster, ransomware attack, insider threat, or geopolitical disruption strikes a key node in this ecosystem, the effects won’t be immediate headlines. They’ll show up months or years later when a military platform is delayed or compromised.
In an age of strategic competition with China and resurgent threats in Europe and the Middle East, that delay could mean the difference between deterrence and disaster.
Strengthening the Arsenal of the Republic If we want the DIB to remain viable, competitive, and secure, we must elevate resilience as a strategic imperative, not an afterthought.
At the Federal Level:
The DoD must go beyond cybersecurity compliance and require holistic emergency management, business continuity, and crisis communications programs for Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors
Congress should fund regional DIB resilience initiatives and technical assistance hubs to help small firms build preparedness capacity
DIB firms must be integrated into DHS-FEMA and CISA exercises, not treated as isolated contractors
In the Private Sector:
Contractors should invest in full-time emergency managers or resilience officers, especially at multi-site operations Continuity of Operations plans (COOP) must be tested regularly and integrated across functions – especially cyber, facilities, HR, and production Leadership should prioritize exercises and scenario planning, particularly for cyber-physical convergence threats
Across the Supply Chain:
Vendors must be mapped and tiered by criticality, with redundancy plans in place for sole-source dependencies. Smaller manufacturers should be given access to resilience toolkits and grant-supported planning assistance.
For the Defense Community:
Collaboration must improve across DoD, DHS, and the intelligence community to identify emerging threats to the DIB Emergency management professionals should be embedded, or a partner, in acquisition planning and supplier vetting The public and political class must recognize that defense readiness includes domestic resilience
Resilience is Readiness The Defense Industrial Base is one of the quietest, but most consequential, sectors in the nation’s infrastructure portfolio. You don’t see it in parades. But it’s there in every missile defense test, every jet engine, every encrypted radio, and every armored vehicle.
If we allow it to weaken, structurally, logistically, or digitally, we erode not just our defense capability, but our credibility.
We cannot afford to wait for crisis to realize that the arsenal of our Republic isn’t just built on innovation or budgets.
It’s built on resilience.
These challenges aren’t theoretical, they’re unfolding in real time. Delays in the F-35 rollout, the Navy’s struggles and eventual cancellation with the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, and schedule slippages in the next-generation aircraft carriers, guided missile frigates, and Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines all point to a sector under immense strain. While these issues stem from a mix of design complexity, funding cycles, and industrial bottlenecks, one thing is clear: the Defense Industrial Base cannot afford additional disruption.
A well-funded, well-placed crisis management function, integrated at both the facility and enterprise level, won’t solve design flaws or procurement hurdles, but it can absorb shock, accelerate recovery, and ensure continuity when disaster strikes. In a sector already grappling with compounding risks, crisis management isn’t a luxury, it’s a strategic buffer against the unpredictable threats of 21st century warfare.
Navy, Marine Corps in Planning for Third Large-Scale Exercise
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are planning for execution later this month for Large-Scale Exercise (LSE) 2025, the third of such exercises since 2021. The LSE will largely be conducted through Live Virtual Construct (LVC) environment but will encompass units from around the world, including—for the first time—allies and partner nations.
LSE 2025, scheduled to begin on August 30, will be conducted “nearly fully virtual” over 22 time zones, said Rear Admiral Kenneth Blackmon, vice commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, during a briefing to reporters on the exercise, pointing out that LVC allows for safer exercises and conserves resources.
Approximately 880 personnel will be directly involved in the exercise, which will include personnel in six regional combatant commanders, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Naval Forces Europe/Africa, Marine Forces Europe/Africa, seven numbered fleets, 10 maritime operations centers (MOCs), Marine Forces Pacific, II Marine Expeditionary Force operations center, five carrier strike groups, two amphibious ready groups, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), various systems commands and type commanders, and Reserve Forces Command, said Capt. Captain Christopher Narducci, the exercise lead who briefed the details of the upcoming exercise.
“This is the only naval exercise spanning all 10 Maritime Operations Centers (MOCs), incorporating both the Navy and Marine Corps worldwide to evaluate and address gaps and seams between fleets,” Blackmon said. Many exercises focus on a single fleet, but LSE raises the bar by requiring coordination across all fleets, providing critical reps and sets at the operational level.”
Allied participation will include a NATO response cell, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The LSE is designed to exercise such aspects as the Global Maritime Response Plan (GMRP), global contested logistics and sustainment operations, reserve mobilization, and the wartime responsibilities of the type commanders.
GMRP “is a new concept that is being developed right now,” Narducci said. “It aims to accelerate our ability to generate forces in wartime or in a crisis scenario. GMRP is about getting more players on the field sooner.”
Brigadier General Thomas M. Armas, deputy commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, also briefing reporters, said that the LSE would exercise the passing of carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups from fleet to fleet.
“This exercise provides an incredible opportunity to hone command and control across the most lethal amphibious task forces in the world, ensuring sea lanes remain open and global commerce flows freely, maintaining peace and stability worldwide,” Armas said. “Exercises like this help us identify and close gaps across multiple time zones, preparing our Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs) and Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) to seamlessly transition forces during crises. It’s challenging enough to operate within one time zone; coordinating across many, especially in adverse conditions, demands realistic practice.
“Being able to rehearse these scenarios ensures we can guarantee the lethality and readiness our nation depends on,” he said. “When our ARGs are deployed around the world during times of crisis, exercises like LSE 25 ensure those forces are synchronized, on time, and on target. Practicing lethality guarantees we can execute it when needed.”
Narducci said the Naval Warfare Development Center will be responsible for overall exercise control, assisted by six global distributed controllers and supported by 17 flag and general officers, including retired officers.
The Navy Continuous Training Environment will be the network for the LSE, Narducci said.
VMFA-224 Redesignates as Marine Corps’ Newest F-35B Squadron
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Steven E. Buckom, from North Carolina, command senior enlisted leader, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224, passes the Marine Corps colors to Lt. Col. Jarrod Allen, from California, the outgoing commanding officer of VMFA(AW)-224, during a squadron redesignation and change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, June 26, 2025. The ceremony represented the squadron’s transition from an all-weather F/A-18D Hornet squadron to an F-35B Lightning II squadron and signified the transfer of responsibility, authority, and accountability from Allen to Lt. Col John P. Stuart. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gavin K. Kulczewski)
From Communication Strategy and Operations Office, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Jun2 27, 2025
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. – Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224 redesignated to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 during a change of command and redesignation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, on Thursday, June 26.
The event marked the squadron’s historic transition from operating the F/A-18D Hornet to becoming an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadron, concluding more than 32 years as a Hornet squadron and as a Marine all-weather fighter attack squadron.
In addition to the redesignation, the ceremony also served as a change of command, representing a transfer of responsibility, authority, and accountability from Lt. Col. Jarrod Allen, the former commanding officer, VMFA(AW)-224, to Lt. Col. John Stuart, the current commanding officer of VMFA-224.
“For over 30 years, the Fightin’ Bengals have superbly executed the mission of a Marine all-weather fighter attack squadron,” said Allen. “As the Bengals redesignate, it ends an era of the All-Weather designation that began with the Night Fighter designation in 1943. I could not be prouder of the Marines and Sailors who upheld the high standards of excellence during the final days of this chapter.”
With origins dating back to 1942, the “Bengals,” or “Fightin’ Bengals,” have a storied legacy in Marine Corps aviation. The squadron supported operations in World War II, the Vietnam War, Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, and the Global War on Terror. Throughout its history, the squadron consistently adapted to emerging aviation technologies to meet evolving modernization demands, including numerous hardware and software upgrades to the F/A-18 Hornet. After conducting its final F/A-18 flight on April 28, 2025, the Bengals now look ahead as they transition to the F-35B.
The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter jet with advanced stealth, agility and maneuverability, sensor and information fusion, and provides the pilot with real-time access to battlespace information. It is designed to meet an advanced threat while improving lethality, survivability, and supportability. The F-35B Lightning II is the short-takeoff and vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35 variant. This capability allows the aircraft to operate from amphibious assault ships and expeditionary airstrips less than 2,000 feet long.
Stuart also reflected on the squadron’s legacy.
“The newly unfurled battle colors of VMFA-224 are adorned with streamers that represent the unit’s history, accomplishments, and the legacy left by those who came before,” said Stuart. “As the squadron transitions into the fifth generation of fighter aircraft with the F-35B, that legacy will be an omnipresent reminder of why we must constantly prepare for whatever comes next.”
As the Marine Corps’ newest F-35B squadron, VMFA-224 continues to prepare its personnel, equipment, and procedures for F-35 operations. The squadron expects to receive its first F-35B in late 2025 and is working towards receiving its Safe for Flight certification.
“The next thing for the Fightin’ Bengals is to build upon the rock-solid foundation we’ve inherited and produce a stealth fighter squadron unmatched in tactical excellence, maintenance efficiency, quality, and Marine Corps ethos,” said Stuart. “Rest assured, when our nation calls upon the Bengals to do its bidding, the adversaries of our country and her allies will understand what it means to ‘Fear the Ambush.’”
VMFA-224 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.
From Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, June 27, 2025
MANILA, Philippines —In a demonstration of allied resolve, interoperability, and command agility, U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3, serving as I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Forward, coordinated a simulated maritime strike operation in support of real-world movements and training across the Philippine archipelago during Exercise KAMANDAG 9, June 1, 2025. In a show of multinational capability, the regimental level headquarters of the forward deployed MRF-D 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) planned, coordinated and executed a true Combined Joint All Domain Operation (CJADO).
The CJADO, centered around multi-phased “constructive kill” (CK) scenarios in support of real-world maneuver, showcased how a purpose-built and forward-deployed MAGTF synchronized fires and effects from joint and combined forces across multiple echelons and domains. A CK involves vectoring simulated fires onto notional targets to enhance training value for the combined forces in the Philippines. Spanning hundreds of nautical miles and integrating Philippine, U.S., Japanese and Republic of Korea maneuver forces, the training validated how precision fires, intelligence, communications, littoral maneuver, and distributed command and control can defend key maritime terrain in response to crisis or contingency.
“This is what combined operations looks like at the highest level — forward-postured, allied-enabled, and terrain-informed,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jason C. Armas, commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 MAGTF. “What we achieved here wasn’t just a constructive kill. It was a deliberate act of allied integration, command agility, and maritime dominance. We showed unambiguously that the Marine Corps can apply precision fires and maneuver at scale, across vast distances, and in lockstep with our partners. This sets the precedent. This is how we fight.”
Adjacent to the MRF-D MAGTF, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) utilized the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to conduct simulated maritime strikes in support of combined 3rd MLR and Philippine Marine maneuver forces in Batanes. To the South, the MRF-D MAGTF directly coordinated with the U.S. Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) to execute simulated simultaneous strikes in support of real-world training with U.S., Philippine, Japanese, and Korean maneuver forces on Palawan. 1st MDTF’s simulated long-range precision fires neutralized notional maritime threats in the waters to the west of Palawan and north of Luzon, creating maneuver corridors for the joint and combined force during KAMANDAG 9.
1st MDTF’s simulated strikes set conditions for the coordinated insertion of a rifle company with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, MRF-D 25.3, and the Philippine Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Brigade, including subordinate Marine Brigade Landing Teams (MBLTs), along the western coastline of Palawan and near the port of Berong. Enabled by the successful second simulated strike, Soldiers with the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB), Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), and Philippine Marines with 3rd Marine Brigade launched a bilateral ship-to-shore movement via Combat Rubber Raiding Crafts (CRRC) simulating a humanitarian disaster relief (HADR) insertion. Once ashore, forces began identification, triage and movement of simulated casualties to a Japanese Role I medical center and then a Role II medical center with MRF-D’s Combat Logistics Battalion 1 (CLB-1).
Adjacent to the HADR, the combined infantry force from MRF-D and the PMC established fortified positions on the Berong beachhead in preparation for a defense against simulated amphibious adversary landing forces following the successful joint MDTF strike. A few days later, that bilateral force conducted a counter-landing live-fire against that same simulated adversary force from fortified positions along the beach near Quezon, marking the culmination of the full kill chain — from sensing, to striking, to defending.
“The Philippine Marine Corps integrates joint and combined sensors to enhance its kill chain, enabling precision engagement and control of key maritime terrain and sea lines of communication,” said Maj. Sivel Sarmiento, an operations officer with the PMC. “This training under KAMANDAG’s constructive kill framework sharpens situational awareness and accelerates target acquisition in support of maritime denial operations.”
The success of the CJADO wasn’t just about fires or maneuver — it was made possible by the MAGTF enablers operating behind the scenes. Joint and combined ISR assets, including maritime surveillance platforms and unmanned systems, provided the data needed to find, fix, and track targets throughout the archipelago. MRF-D’s intelligence and communications teams, supported by defensive cyber operators, ensured that targeting data, movement coordination, and effects synchronization continued uninterrupted. The joint fires timeline was stitched together digitally in real time.
“The MRF-D MAGTF Defensive Cyberspace Operations-Internal Defensive Measures (DCO-IDM) element, organically embedded within the MAGTF’s Fires and Effects Coordination Center (FECC),” said 1st Lt. Jared Haynie, officer in charge of the DCO-IDM team with MRF-D 25.3. “As an integrated, organic MAGTF asset, the team’s focused defensive operations enabled uninterrupted execution of critical events during the CJADO and provided a postured incident response surge capability for the greater cyber community in the event of exploitation or compromise.”
All phases of the CJADO were enabled by MRF-D’s FECC, serving as the central node for timing, integration, and synchronization of MAGTF effects from command-and-control nodes in the Philippines and Australia. The FECC coordinated seamlessly with 1st MDTF planners and the Philippine Navy and Marine Corps personnel to deliver multi-axis, cross-domain effects across more than 1,000 kilometers of archipelagic terrain. Philippine Navy and Coast Guard vessels observed operations in key Philippine maritime corridors, integrating Philippine naval assets in building maritime domain awareness and completing the combined observation picture.
What took place during KAMANDAG 9 was a strategic demonstration of how the United States, the Philippines, and their allies support continued peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific. It showed how a regimental-sized Marine headquarters — when enabled by supporting elements and allies and partners — can synchronize multi-domain fires, work with allied formations, and maneuver inside key maritime terrain in support of Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept objectives and Philippine sovereignty.
“This CJADO proves that deterrence is not abstract,” said Col. Armas. “It’s observable. It’s measurable. And it’s executable in terrain that matters, alongside allies who can see, decide, and act faster than any adversary. Was this a rehearsal? No. It was a real-time demonstration of how we, as allied and partner forces, outpace, outmaneuver, and outthink those who would threaten peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.”
Airbus and Parry Labs Partner on U.S. Marine Corps’ Unmanned Aerial Logistics Connector
WASHINGTON (June 26, 2025) — Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and Parry Labs, a leading provider of edge software platforms have announced a multi-year partnership for the Airbus MQ-72C Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC), an unmanned variant of the UH-72 Lakota.
This collaboration demonstrates the combined capability Parry Labs and Airbus provide in rapidly delivering autonomy, command and control, and mission capabilities using modern digital and hardware solutions. The initial effort with ALC will establish an immediate foundation for accelerated capability delivery for U.S., Coalition, and commercial aircraft.
Under the terms of the agreement, Parry Labs will deliver a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Edge Software Platform, Stratia, which aligns commercial aviation standards with modern autonomy and mission system capabilities. Parry will also provide edge computer hardware and proven ground control station that scales to multiple form factors to include integration with the Marine Air Ground Tablet (MAGTAB).
“We are excited to partner with Parry Labs as part of our Aerial Logistics Connector team,” said Robert Geckle, Chairman and CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. “Parry’s proven digital system integration expertise – specifically UAS command and control interfaces – will help ensure the MQ-72C will be able to conduct unmanned operations in austere environments and redefine how the Marine Corps counters the threats of tomorrow.”
The Airbus U.S. and Parry Labs partnership will continue to evolve missionization capabilities over the next several years, ultimately enabling more advanced levels of autonomous flight across the Marine Corps and broader Joint Force.
“We are able to bring modern mission system capabilities in a simple unified data and systems environment to programs like ALC,” said JD Parkes, Parry Labs’ Chief Executive Officer.
The Airbus team is entering the second year of the Aerial Logistics Connector program, which is using the Middle Tier of Acquisition – Rapid Prototyping pathway. The program aims to provide the service with aircraft prototypes to demonstrate capabilities to the warfighter through a series of operational demonstrations and experiments.
The Aerial Logistics Connector effort is one of several across the Department of Defense to deliver logistical support in distributed environments during peer or near-peer conflicts.
Marine Corps General Tapped for JAG of the Navy
From U.S. Department of Defense, June 24, 2025
ARLINGTON, Va.–Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced today that the president has made the following nomination:
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David J. Bligh for appointment as judge advocate general of the Navy. Bligh is currently serving as the staff judge advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Headquarters, Marine Corps, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Below is the official biography of Major General Bligh:
Major General Bligh was raised in Athens, Pennsylvania. He is a 1988 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a 1997 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law.
Major General Bligh was commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Course program in 1988. He initially served as a Platoon Commander and Company Commander at 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He later served as a Series Commander at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.
Upon completion of the Naval Justice School, Major General Bligh served as a civil law officer, trial counsel, and officer-in-charge of legal assistance at Camp Lejeune. He was then assigned as Director, Joint Law Center, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. During this assignment, Major General Bligh deployed for OIF-I with Task Force Tarawa.
Major General Bligh has served as the Staff Judge Advocate for 3rd Marine Division and III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, and Marine Corps Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. Prior to assuming his current duties, Major General Bligh served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and later as the Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Navy (Military Law).
SECDEF Announces Marine Corps General Officer Nominations
From the U.S. Department of Defense, June 20, 2025
ARLINGTON, Va. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced today that the President has made the following nominations:
Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney for reappointment to the grade of general, with assignment as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Mahoney is currently serving as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory L. Masiello for reappointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as director, Joint Strike Fighter Program, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Masiello is currently serving as director, Defense Contract Management Agency, Fort Lee, Virginia.
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson for reappointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commandant, Training and Education and commanding general, Training and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia. Watson is currently serving as commanding general, Training and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia.
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Jay M. Bargeron for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Bargeron is currently serving as director, J-5, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Hawaii.
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. William J. Bowers for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Quantico, Virginia. Bowers is currently serving as commanding general, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Quantico, Virginia.
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Stephen E. Liszewski for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as director, Joint Force Development, J-7, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Liszewski is currently serving as vice director, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David L. Odom for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as director for operations, J-3, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Odom is currently serving as director, Joint Capabilities Integration Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia.
