Pentagon to Cut Generals, Contractors

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is getting more specific about the $100 billion in overhead cuts he's seeking to implement. In a memo first reported by Inside Defense and later obtained by Danger Room, Gates orders the military services to eliminate or downgrade 140 general officer positions and cut more than 1,000 contractor jobs.

High-ranking military personnel affected include headquarters staffers at U.S. Army Europe and officers at the Navy's Network Warfare Command and DoD's new Cyber Command. Also, civilians will be placed in charge of the military post exchange system.

About 1,000 contractors will be cut from the Missile Defense Agency, along with 130 from the office of the undersecretary for policy and 364 from the military's health care management organization, according to the Danger Room report.