
The number of open senior Pentagon positions is slowly shrinking as the Senate overwhelmingly approved Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley to become the 20th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff July 25, three days after securing votes for a new defense secretary. Milley’s nomination was approved by a vote of 89-1, with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) casting the sole dissenting vote. The 10 senators who did not vote include six Democrats, to include five presidential candidates: Sens.…