Brass Tracks.

• Position: Recent defense appointments - Brief Article

Government

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld established the office of force Transformation within the office of the secretary of defense and appointed retired Navy Vice Adm. Arthur K. Cebrowski as its director. Cebrowski will report directly to the secretary and deputy secretary of defense.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark announced the following assignments:

Navy Rear Adm. Harry W. Whiton is being assigned as special assistant to the chief of naval operations for information operations. Whiton currently is serving as commander of the Naval Security Group Command.

Navy Rear Adm. Thomas W. Steffens is being named special assistant to the commander in chief of the Atlantic Fleet. Steffens currently is serving as chief of staff for the U.S. Special Operation Command.

Navy Rear Adm. Bruce W Clingan is appointed as deputy director for operations, J3, for the U.S. Central Command. Clingan currently is serving as commanding officer, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

Navy Rear Adm. Charles H. Johnston Jr. is being assigned as vice commander for the Naval Air Systems Command. Johnston currently is commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center (Weapons Division), in China Lake, Calif.

Navy Rear Adm. David C. Nichols Jr. is named commander of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, in Fallon, Nev. Nichols is commander of Carrier Group One.

Navy Rear Adm. Donna L. Crisp is appointed deputy chief of staff for shore base management, N46, for the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Crisp currently serves as executive assistant for the deputy commander in chief, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

James F. O'Bryon retired from government service in November. O'Bryon served for 37 years with the Department of Defense, culminating as deputy director, Live Fire Test & Evaluation, Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation. He currently heads the newly formed O'Bryon Group. O'Bryon continues to serve NDIA as the chairman of the Test & Evaluation Division.

Industry

Oshkosh truck Corporation named W. John Stoddart to the position of president of defense business. Stoddart also was appointed to an executive vice president of Oshkosh Truck Corporation and continues as a corporate officer of the company Stoddart is chairman of the industrial committee on operational test and evaluation.

Northrop Grumman Corporation, located in Los Angeles, announced the appointment of Scott J. Seymour as corporate vice president and president...