SECDEF
Opinion – Thoughts on Secretary Hegseth’s Removal of Admiral and Generals From Promotion Lists
BLUF – The author, a former Air Force General Counsel who advised promotion boards, argues that Secretary Hegseth’s removal of officers from Navy and Air Force flag promotion lists is an unprecedented departure from the military’s longstanding merit-based promotion process and risks introducing political considerations into officer advancement. He contends that the action could undermine confidence in the promotion system, weaken the tradition of a nonpartisan military, and create uncertainty among senior officers about whether factors other than performance and qualifications will influence promotion decisions.
https://notesfortheperplexed.substack.com/p/thoughts-on-secretary-hegseths-removal
New York Times – Hegseth Strikes Female and Black Navy Officers From Promotion List
BLUF – The article reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally removed several Navy officers from a promotion list for one-star admiral after they had already been selected by a board of senior Navy leaders, an intervention described by current and former officials as highly unusual. The officers removed reportedly included women and Black officers, resulting in a final list of 22 nominees that was all male and overwhelmingly white; Pentagon officials denied that race or gender played a role and said promotions were based on merit. The move has intensified concerns about political involvement in military promotion decisions and follows other recent personnel actions by Hegseth that critics say have disproportionately affected women and minority officers.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 