June 4, 2026

Vets’ Jobless Rate Worsens

Unemployment rates jumped for all veterans in January, up to 4.5% from 3.8% in December. Vets in the post-9/11 generation saw unemployment rise from 5.1% to 5.8%. Military Times. The monthly report jobless rates for veterans exceeding the general population for the second time since January 2025.

US Attacks Venezuela, Captures Maduro

Venezuela Maduro

The US launched an assault over the weekend on the Venezuelan capital of Caracas that took leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife into American custody and has set the stage for the US to run the South American nation. The military operation, dubbed Absolute Resolve, involved more than 150 aircraft — bombers, fighters, intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and rotary wing.

Report: Rebranding DoD Could Come With Hefty Pricetag

Defense

A new report finds that the Pentagon name change from the Department of Defense to the Department of War could cost up to $2 billion. Officially changing the DoD name can only be done by Congress and would require updating thousands of signs, rewriting digital code, and creating new letterheads, placards, and badges.

DoD Rebrand: US Department of War

Department of War

The US Defense Department will now be known as the Department of War. “It’s … restoring the warrior ethos, restoring victory and clarity as an end state. Restoring intentionality to the use of force,” DefSec Pete Hegseth said.

Talk of Golden Dome Is Heating Up

Golden Dome

The Golden Dome is dominating discussions among government contracting professionals. GEN Michael Guetlein, the recently named head of the Pentagon project, said he is focused on quickly building a team, casting a vision for the homeland missile defense system. He’s got two months to submit a blueprint for Golden Dome to DefSec Pete Hegseth.

KC-46 Tanker Loses Boom in Aerial Refueling

An Air Force KC-46 Pegasus tanker lost its boom on July 8 while refueling an F-22 Raptor fighter jet off the coast of Virginia.

Army Ousts Civilians for Tech Advisers

ArmySec Dan Driscoll terminated the 115-member slate of civilian advisers to clear way to “focus on leveraging civilian expertise in strategic communications, advanced technology, innovation and digital transformation.” The century-old Civilian Aide Program was considered the secretary’s eyes and ears in communities across the country.

Lockheed Martin Launches AI Fight Club

AI Fight Club

Lockheed Martin is launching a new program, AI Fight Club, a virtual battleground where companies can test their artificial intelligence algorithms for use in military applications in air, land, sea, and space domains. The first competition is scheduled for later this year.

MD Guard Divests Its A-10Cs, But White House Nixes F-16 Deal

Maryland Air National Guard LT COL Steven Montalvo gestures farewell to fellow guardsmen while taxiing in an A-10C Thunderbolt II at Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport, MD, on March 26. The aircraft was the first to be sent from the 175th Wing to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ, as part of the initial process of divesting the Maryland Guard’s A-10C fleet. (Photo by Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Sarah Hoover) Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community….

Report: US Naval Supremacy Under Threat from China

Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff. A Center for Strategic and International Studies’ report issued last week found that China has grown to be the world’s dominant player in shipbuilding over the past two decades, reports The Associated Press. This poses economic and national security challenges for the US and its allies, according to the report released March 11. China claims to have more than half of the world’s commercial…