Teri Smith holds a photo of her son, Iraq veteran Staff Sgt. Justin "Jon" Garza, who shot himself in July at a friend's apartment near Ft. Hood, Texas. Last week's shooting rampage has drawn new attention to soldiers' mental health. "My son slipped through the cracks," Smith says. (Luke Sharrett / New York Times)
From the Seattle Post Intelligencer:
Last updated November 19, 2009 11:22 a.m. PT
Gates names West, Clark to lead Fort Hood review (click here)
By PAULINE JELINEK AND ANNE GEARAN
Gates names West, Clark to lead Fort Hood review (click here)
By PAULINE JELINEK AND ANNE GEARAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- Trying to avert another tragedy like the Fort Hood shootings, Defense Secretary Robert Gates named a former Army secretary and former Navy chief to review a broad range of Pentagon programs, ranging from medical and personnel policies to how well military bases are secured.
Army Secretary Togo West and former chief of naval operations Adm. Vernon Clark will head the 45-day review.
"The shootings at Fort Hood raise a number of troubling questions that demand complete but prompt answers," Gates told a Pentagon news conference. He said the review would seek to ensure the health and safety of military members and their families.
The review will try to find gaps in procedures for identifying service members who could pose threats to others, he said....
WASHINGTON -- Trying to avert another tragedy like the Fort Hood shootings, Defense Secretary Robert Gates named a former Army secretary and former Navy chief to review a broad range of Pentagon programs, ranging from medical and personnel policies to how well military bases are secured.
Army Secretary Togo West and former chief of naval operations Adm. Vernon Clark will head the 45-day review.
"The shootings at Fort Hood raise a number of troubling questions that demand complete but prompt answers," Gates told a Pentagon news conference. He said the review would seek to ensure the health and safety of military members and their families.
The review will try to find gaps in procedures for identifying service members who could pose threats to others, he said....
Nomination by President Clinton
Brief Article
A distinguished 51-year-old Howard University trained lawyer who served as the Navy's general counsel during the Carter administration was selected by President Clinton as the next U.S. Army Secretary at the Pentagon.
If he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Togo Dennis West, Jr. will take over the duties of an office which recently was vacated when John W. Shannon, who was the Pentagon's highest ranked civilian Black, was placed on administrative leave on charges of shoplifting a $30 blouse and skirt ensemble....
If he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Togo Dennis West, Jr. will take over the duties of an office which recently was vacated when John W. Shannon, who was the Pentagon's highest ranked civilian Black, was placed on administrative leave on charges of shoplifting a $30 blouse and skirt ensemble....
Something tells me these men know a little bit about the military.
STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL VERN CLARK, U.S. NAVY (click here)
CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF THE NAVY
27 SEPTEMBER 2000
Vernon E. ClarkChief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy (retired)
Admiral Vernon E. Clark joined SRI’s Board of Directors in 2007.
Admiral Vernon E. Clark joined SRI’s Board of Directors in 2007.
...Admiral Clark serves on the boards of Raytheon Company, Horizon Lines, Rolls Royce North America, the Armed Forces YMCA, the World Board of Governors of the USO, and he is a member of the Defense Policy Board. He is on the Board of Trustees at Regent University and the Board of Visitors at Air University. Admiral Clark is on advisory boards with Fleishman-Hillard Inc., the U.S. General Accounting Office, Computer Science Corporation, and Whitney, Bradley & Brown.
