The Senate confirmed several national security nominations by voice vote late Feb. 15, including former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin to the new job of undersecretary of defense for research and engineering (R&E).
Under a congressional mandate aimed at increasing attention to innovation, the Department of Defense recently split the position of undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (AT&L) into two positions: one for acquisition and sustainment (A&S) and the other for R&E. Ellen Lord led AT&L until becoming A&S undersecretary Feb. 1. 
Defense Secretary James Mattis expressed optimism in October that the reorganization would help DoD develop and field new technology more quickly (Defense Daily, Oct. 9, 2017).
The Senate also approved Kevin Fahey to be assistant secretary of defense for acquisition, William Roper to be Air Force acquisition chief, and John Gibson to be DoD’s first chief management officer.
Lisa Gordon-Hagerty was confirmed as undersecretary of energy for nuclear security.