Defense News and Headlines
Defense News and Headlines
The U.S. Senate confirmed Army Lt. Gen. Thomas M. Carden as the 12th vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, making him the first officer to hold the four‑star rank in that position. The FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act elevated the vice chief role to four stars, giving the Guard two four‑star generals for the first time. Carden will oversee the manning, training and equipping of more than 435,000 Guard Soldiers and Airmen across all states and territories. His prior experience includes deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command and senior NATO assignments.
The Illinois National Guard and Portugal’s Ministry of National Defense signed a State Partnership Program agreement on Jan. 12, 2026 in Lisbon. The partnership, part of the U.S. Army’s National Guard Bureau program, formalizes cooperation between the Illinois Guard and Portuguese armed...
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the 15‑year prison term for Leonard Francis, the Malaysian contractor known as “Fat Leonard,” rejecting his Fifth Amendment and sentencing‑disparity arguments. The panel found district judge Janis Sammartino’s sentencing decision reasonable,...
A federal jury convicted former Navy SEAL Gregory Vandenberg of transporting fireworks and planning to fire explosives at police during San Diego’s June 14 “No Kings” rally. Prosecutors highlighted his neo‑Nazi beliefs, anti‑Israel rhetoric, and a photo of a Taliban...
New York Army National Guard Colonel Jason Lefton, a Niskayuna resident, assumed command of the 53rd Troop Command on Jan. 11, 2026 at Camp Smith. The 53rd Troop Command oversees roughly 5,100 soldiers across the state and is one of the Guard’s two general‑officer commands. Lefton...
The New York Army National Guard hosted a four‑day Junior Enlisted Conference for 61 junior soldiers at its Latham headquarters from Jan 8‑11, 2026. Led by Command Sgt. Major Leyland Jones and adjutant general Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the workshop covered training, readiness, family programs,...
The Pennsylvania National Guard has been selected to partner with Côte d’Ivoire through the U.S. Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. The partnership will focus on security cooperation, disaster preparedness, and professional development, while also exploring economic...
A former U.S. Navy petty officer, Jinchao Wei, was sentenced to 200 months in prison for selling classified technical manuals and operational data about the amphibious assault ship USS Essex to a Chinese intelligence officer. Wei received more than $12,000 for...
Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot, filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon seeking to block a censure issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The censure stems from Kelly’s participation in a video urging troops to refuse unlawful orders, which...
