Wicker appoints retired Army General to National Defense Strategy commission

The Hill · Feb 25, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), told The Hill on Wednesday that he has appointed retired four-star U.S. Army Gen. Jack Keane to serve on the Commission on the National Defense Strategy (NDS). “General Keane has faithfully served our country since the era of the Vietnam War. Few individuals in our history have contributed so much to the betterment of our national security efforts. Fittingly, President Trump awarded General Keane the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his first administration,” Wicker said in a statement. “Today, it gives me great pleasure to appoint General Keane to the Commission on the National Defense Strategy,” the GOP senator added. “I am certain his expertise will be invaluable to the Commission’s work.” The renewed establishment of the commission, an independent body that examines and makes recommendations on U.S. national defense strategy, was included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was signed into law by President Trump on Dec. 18. The commission conducts assessments, examining traditional and non-traditional threats to the U.S., the readiness of troops, allocations of resources, force posture and military and security risks to provide recommendations. The commission is made up of eight members who are non-governmental experts in national security. Apart from Wicker, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on SASC, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Commitee (HASC) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member on HASC, get to appoint one member each. Keane, who is the chairman of the Institute for the Study of War and is Fox News’s senior strategic analyst, has previously served on NDS commissions. The commission previously issued a report on July 29, 2024, urging the U.S. to focus on countering Russia and China and for Washington to continue strengthening alliances and boost investments in technology. Keane, who is a graduate of the Army War College, served as vice chief of staff of the Army from 1999 to 2003. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.