Austin taps top State Department adviser as Pentagon chief of staff

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has tapped a senior State Department official and veteran policy hand under successive Democratic presidents as the Pentagon’s new chief of staff, officials said, as the Biden administration races to lock in key defense priorities ahead of November elections.

Derek Chollet, who as an aide to Secretary of State Antony Blinken has played a central role in the effort to broker a deal transforming the Middle East, will replace current chief of staff Kelly Magsamen, who is stepping down this month, officials said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/06/24/austin-chollet-pentagon-chief-staff/