Who's Who In Defense 2021

A special Breaking Defense reference series profiling key defense decision-makers in the new administration and congress.

Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense

Lloyd James Austin III is the 28th Secretary of Defense. He reports directly to the President of the United States, oversees the Defense Department and acts as the principal defense policy maker and advisor to the President.

Mike Rogers, Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee

Ranking member (the top Republican) on the HASC. Plays a key role in preparing the bill that directs U.S. military policy and outlines the Pentagon budget each year.

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Adam Smith, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee

As chair of the HASC, Smith is one of the most powerful lawmakers who shape policy and spending at the Pentagon. Oversees committee deliberations for the annual defense budget, which authorizes Department of Defense spending through defense appropriation bills and the National Defense Authorization Act.

Jack Reed, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee

Reed oversees the powerful committee that helps shape defense policy and spending for the DoD. Each year, the SASC passes the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bipartisan nature of the committee has been marked by 60 consecutive years of passing the NDAA.

Kathleen Hicks, Deputy Secretary Of Defense

As the Pentagon's No. 2 civilian, Kathleen Hicks executes the defense secretary's priorities and oversees DoD's day-to-day operations, which includes managing the defense budget.

Avril D. Haines, Director of National Intelligence

The nation's top intelligence official—the DNI — is the designated leader of the U. S. Intelligence Community (IC), 18 agencies and organizations that include the CIA, the National Security Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office and the Office of DNI. The DNI was created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A cabinet-level position, the DNI directs the National Intelligence Program budget and is the principal advisor to the president, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to national security.

James Inhofe, Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee

As the top Republican on the SASC, James Inhofe exerts considerable influence over a committee that dates back to 1816, (following the wars with Great Britain). Today, the SASC plays a crucial role in fulfilling the Senate's constitutional and policymaking duties, including producing a bipartisan agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which implements the National Defense Strategy.

Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor

Called the "the best foreign policy job in government," the NSA serves as the top aide to the president on national security and foreign policy. The NSA is generally a low-profile, high-influence position that plays a foundational role in the National Security Council (NSC).

Who's Who in Defense: HASC's Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee - Donald Norcross, Chairman; Vicky Hartzler, Ranking Member

Norcross and Hartzler lead the 16-member HASC subcommittee that has primary jurisdiction over Army and Air Force acquisition, Navy and Marine Corps aviation, and Army and Air Force National Guard and Reserve.

Tammy Duckworth, Chairwoman, SASC's Subcommittee on Airland

Duckworth's appointment as Chair of SASC's Airland Subcommittee comes on the heels of a new ruling by the Democratic caucus to distribute authority evenly across the SASC while extending leadership opportunities to junior senators on Senate subpanels.

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Tom Cotton, Ranking Member, SASC's Subcommittee on Airland

As former chair of SASC's Airland Subcommittee, Cotton brings direct experience to his new role as Ranking Republican of the 12-member panel responsible for Army, Air Force, National Guard and Reserve planning and operations policy and programs, not including special operations, space and cyber, and nuclear weapons in the Air Force.

Mark Milley, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

The highest-ranking military officer in America, Milley acts as the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council. As chairman of the JCS, which comprises the top eight military officials in the country, Milley is the conduit between the executive branch and the military chiefs. He exercises no military authority over combatant forces.

John Hyten, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

The second-highest-ranking officer in the military, Hyten serves as voting member of the JCS, an advisory body within the DoD comprised of the chairman and vice chairman, the chiefs of staff of the Army and Air Force, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Joe Manchin, Chairman, SASC Cybersecurity Subcommittee

Manchin chairs a subcommittee that oversees policies and programs related to cyber forces and capabilities. Created in 2017 after Russian-based hacking attempts, the Senate subcommittee is responsible for Cyber Command and other cyber components within DoD.

Mike Rounds, Ranking Member, SASC Cybersecurity Subcommittee

Rounds is the minority leader of a Senate subcommittee with primary responsibility over the policies and programs related to cyber forces and capabilities. One of seven subcommittees within the SASC, it has jurisdiction over Cyber Command and other cyber components within DoD.

Jim Langevin, Chairman, House Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems (CITI)

Langevin chairs the newly-formed CITI Subcommittee that emerged onto the legislative scene following the dissolution of the Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee.

Elise Stefanik, Ranking Member, House Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems (CITI) Subcommittee

Stefanik is the top Republican on this new legislative panel with broad jurisdiction over numerous DoD policy and programs.

Gen. James McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army

McConville is principal military advisor and deputy to the Secretary of the Army. Appointed in August 2019, he replaced Gen. Mark Milley, now chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Adm. Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations

Admiral Michael Gilday is the highest-ranking officer in the Navy, reporting to Kenneth Braithwaite, Navy Secretary.

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