Army Gen. Mark Milley on Sept. 30 became the 20th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, taking over for retiring Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford. Milley, who had served as the chief of staff of the Army since 2015, was sworn in as the nation’s top uniformed officer during a rain-soaked ceremony at JB Myer-Henderson Hall, Va. During his speech, Milley pledged to continue the military’s modernization, along with showing “unwavering support” and care for troops and families. “We stand ready to keep the peace, or if necessary, win the war,” he said. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), the ranking member and former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, announced Sept. 30 he will not seek re-election, joining three other HASC Republicans who have announced they will retire. “I believe the time has come for a change,” Thornberry said in a statement thanking his voters. In the committee, he has been a champion of increased readiness and spending on research and development, along with leading the effort for Section 804 authorities to speed Pentagon acquisition. Read the full story by John A. Tirpak.

The Air Force on Sept. 27 awarded Boeing about $2.6 billion for lot 5 production of the KC-46 tanker, covering 15 aircraft. The contract modification also covers data, two spare engines, five wing refueling pod kits, initial spares, support equipment, subscriptions, and licenses. Work on this production lot is expected to be completed by March 2023, according to the Pentagon announcement. Boeing so far has delivered 19 of the aircraft to the Air Force, though multiple Category One deficiencies have limited the aircraft’s ability to meet testing requirements. Air Mobility Command boss Gen. Maryanne Miller said recently she doesn’t expect the aircraft to be able to deploy for three to four years, as a deficiency on the aircraft’s remote vision system will take an extended amount of time to address. —Brian Everstine

US aircraft and personnel fought off an al-Shabaab attack on a training base and airfield Sept. 30 in Somalia, where US forces train local fighters in a rural area about 70 miles from the capital. US Africa Command said the group targeted the Baledogle Military Airfield with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. No US or partner forces were injured in the attack.  “This attack, though ineffective, demonstrates the direct threat al-Shabaab poses to Americans, our allies, and interests in the region,” Maj. Gen. William Gayler, AFRICOM’s director of operations, said in the release. In response to the attack, the US conducted two airstrikes, and forces on the ground fought off the attacks. Ten al-Shabaab fighters were killed and one vehicle was destroyed, according to AFRICOM. The airfield has undergone recent construction, including to its runway, and it is the site of US training for the Somalia National Army. —Brian Everstine

The Pentagon on Sept. 30 awarded Pratt & Whitney Military Engines an almost $2.2 billion contract to supply 183 engines for all F-35 variants. The contract definitizes a previous contract covering 112 engines Air Force F-35As, 46 engines for the Marine Corps F-35Cs, and 25 engines for Navy F-35Bs, according to a Pentagon release. The contract also definitized a previous award for long-lead parts and materials associated with 129 A variant engines and 19 B variant engines. Including previous contract totals, which also includes foreign sales, $3.56 billion was obligated by the Sept. 30 action. The award combined purchases of about $880 million for the Air Force, about $619.2 million for the Marine Corps, $178.8 million for the Navy, $420 million for non-US F-35 partners, and $99.4 million for foreign military sales customers. —John A. Tirpak

Ryan McCarthy on Sept. 30 was sworn in as the 24th secretary of the Army. McCarthy, who was formerly the No. 2 in the Army, had served as the acting secretary of the service since Mark Esper was nominated and confirmed to be defense secretary. In a Sept. 27 message to soldiers, McCarthy wrote that under his leadership the service will need to improve strategic readiness while also modernizing, to ensure the Army “remains the most lethal ground combat force in the world.” While moving toward these goals, the service also must take care of its people, including reversing “negative trends in suicide, sexual assault, and sexual harassment that tear at the fabric of our formations.” McCarthy, who was confirmed by the Senate on Sept. 27, was nominated for the job in June. Barbara Barrett, who was nominated to be the next Air Force secretary a month before McCarthy was tapped, is expected to be up for a Senate vote on Oct. 15. —Brian Everstine