Department of Defense Spokesman Lt. Col. David Herndon provided the following readout:
Performing the Duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Ms. Melissa Dalton led a delegation to the Southwest border, Jan. 11-12, to see firsthand how the Department of Defense is supporting U.S. government efforts to secure the border.
She was joined by Major General Matthew Smith, Commanding General of Joint Task Force – North; Brigadier General John Lubas, Headquarters Department of the Army Director of Operations, Readiness, and Mobilization; and Brigadier General Robert Davis, Director of Operations at U.S. Northern Command. The delegation met with service members deployed in support of San Diego Sector U.S. Border Patrol. They also received operational updates and immersions on mobile surveillance support; remote video detection and camera monitoring; and light rotary wing aircraft.
Ms. Dalton's visit underscores the DoD's commitment to whole-of-government security efforts and highlights the imperative for continued collaboration in addressing dynamic challenges at the Southwest border.