{beacon} Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  Hegseth scrutiny grows after sexual assault incident reveal  President-elect Trump’s pick for Defense secretary, Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, was investigated as part of a 2017 sexual assault incident in California, according to police. © Evan Vucci, Associated Press file A summary of the police report said the victim suffered a contusion to their right thigh, but the city did not release the report or additional details. The city did not indicate charges were filed in the case, nor name Hegseth as the aggressor.   The Hill has reached out to Trump’s transition team for comment. Vanity Fair reported that Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, along with attorneys, spoke with Hegseth about the sexual assault allegation Thursday.   Hegseth told Trump’s team the allegation stemmed from a consensual encounter, according to Vanity Fair.   Hegseth is one of several controversial picks that Trump has made for his Cabinet.   His selection surprised Washington given his relative lack of experience. But after the nominations of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for attorney general, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary, Hegseth is far from the most controversial figure.   Hegseth was an infantry officer in the Army National Guard from 2002-21. After graduating from Princeton University in 2003, he went on to serve tours in Guantánamo Bay from 2004-05, Iraq from 2005-06 and Afghanistan from 2011-12, according to the Army National Guard.   For the past decade, he has been a Fox News personality and host of its weekend “Fox & Friends” program, during which he has made some comments that could cause him headaches in his confirmation battle.   He said women should not serve in combat roles and has endorsed firing “woke” generals, whom he blames for eroding the military’s strength by focusing on diversity efforts. He has also said the transgender community should not be able to serve in the military.   Read the full report at TheHill.com.   Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:   Trump picks former Georgia congressman for VA secretary President-elect Trump has announced former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve, as his pick for the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs.  A lawyer by trade and a member of Congress from 2013 to 2021, Collins is a staunch supporter of Trump and was one of his biggest defenders in the House during Democratic-led impeachment hearings against the then-president and attempted to use that stance during …  Full Story   NATO jets scrambled after Russian planes seen off Norway and over Baltic Sea ‘not adhering to international norms’ Italian and Norwegian jets responded under NATO authority on Tuesday to multiple Russian aircraft “not adhering to international norms.” NATO Allied Air Command said on Thursday that Italy’s air force intercepted a Russian Coot-A over the Baltic Sea, and Norway’s air force “took off to identify multiple Russian aircraft flying in international airspace off the Norwegian Coast.” Russian aircraft have been detected and intercepted …  Full Story   Pentagon UFO office received more than 700 reports in past year The Pentagon’s UFO office has received more than 700 reports, a newly declassified assessment reveals. It’s a dramatic increase in witness sightings and accounts that adds to a growing list and comes as former Defense Department officials claim the U.S. has technology far beyond human capabilities. The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) received 757 reports of Unidentified …  Full Story   On Our Radar  Upcoming things we're watching on our beat:  President Biden on Saturday will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Lima, Peru. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin left today for a nine-day trip to Australia, the Philippines, Laos and Fiji. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and  Bret Holmgren, acting director, National Counterterrorism Center, will testify on worldwide threats before the House Committee on Homeland Security next Wednesday and again before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday.   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Gabbard selection flummoxes national security experts Tulsi Gabbard’s expressed support for national security leakers and her elevation of Russian-backed narratives are coming under renewed scrutiny after President-elect Trump nominated her to the highest intelligence post in the country. If confirmed as director of national intelligence (DNI), Gabbard … Full Story   On Tap Monday  Events in and around the defense world:  The Center for Strategic and International Studies will hold its 2024 Republic of Korea-U.S. Strategic Forum at 9 a.m.   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets: Kings of campus: How some Army instructors use their clout to prey on college cadets (Military.com) Pentagon chief Austin embarks on his last Asia visit amid uncertainty (Military Times) Ukraine prioritizes security, not territory, as Trump pushes truce talks (The New York Times)   Trending Today  Two key stories on The Hill right now: GOP senators: Gaetz nomination to head Justice in serious trouble Republican senators are warning that former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) nomination to serve as President-elect Trump’s attorney general … Read more Trump’s White House press secretary: 5 possible picks As President-elect Trump fills out his Cabinet ahead of Inauguration Day, speculation is swirling inside Mar-A-Lago and across media circles about … Read more   Opinions in The Hill  Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: Pete Hegseth wants to shake up the Pentagon? Good luck! Biden’s escalation paralysis has devastated Ukraine Is it time for Trump to drain the swamp … in Iran?     You're all caught up. See you next week!  Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter Subscribe