Chain Of Command -- December 3, 2016

This may be of interest in early 2017:

• Secretary of Defense: President-elect Trump will nominate General (ret) James Mattis
• US Secretary of the Army: Eric Fanning, as of May 17, 2016, appointed by the President; no fixed term
• US Under Secretary of the Army: Patrick J. Murphy, as of January 4, 2016; appointed by the President; term length -- no fixed term
• Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works): Jo-Ellen Darcy, appointed by President Obama, 2009; current activities -- cleaning out her office; updating her resume
• US Army Corps of Engineers: Lieutenant General Todd T. Semonite, assumed command May 19, 2016;

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Tick, Tick, Tick

From the AP: Venezuala to issue larger bills; currency continues to melt. Data points:

• Venezuela bordering on economic collapse
• triple-digit inflation
• largest note currently worth about 2 US cents on the black market
• Venezuela currency lost 67% of its value on the black market last month -- the steepest monthly plunge ever