United States Department of Defense United States Department of Defense

Top U.S. Officials Honor Americans Who Died in Libya

President Barrack Obama speaks at the dignified transfer ceremony for U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, Foreign Service officer Sean Smith, and security officers Tyrone S. Woods and Glen A. Doherty at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Sept. 14, 2012.

DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered eulogies for U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three fellow State Department employees during a dignified transfer ceremony on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 14, 2012. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta was also on hand to honor the men who were lost during a Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Army General Martin E. Dempsey Becomes 18th. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

SpecialsMore »

  • FY 2013 Budget Proposal

    Graphic: African-American History Month

    Defense officials unveiled a new FY 2013 budget strategy that reduces the Pentagon's budget, preserves pay and benefits for current troops, and invests in a smaller, more agile force to counter future threats.

    Special »

  • Retroactive Stop Loss

    Graphic: Retroactive Stop Loss Special

    Service members and veterans whose military service was involuntarily extended under the “Stop Loss” program from 9/11 through Sept. 30, 2009, now have until Oct. 21, 2012, to apply for special retroactive pay, Pentagon officials have announced.

    Special »

  • Military
    Family Support

    Graphic: Military Family Support

    This AFPS special report provides regular updates on DOD's efforts to help improve the lives of military families.

    Special »

Featured Photos

  • President Barrack Obama speaks at the dignified transfer ceremony for the U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, Foreign Service officer Sean Smith, and security officers Tyrone S. Woods and Glen A. Doherty at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Sept. 14, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers remarks during a dignified transfer ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 14, 2012, for the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three fellow State Department employees killed in a Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Consultate in Benghazi, Libya. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Steele C.G. Britton
  • President Barack Obama, followed by Army Chaplain Col. J. Wesley Smith and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, walks toward the podium during the transfer of remains ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 14, 2012, marking the return to the United States of the remains of the four Americans killed in Benghazi, Libya. White House photo by Pete Souza
  • Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, center, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, attend the dignified transfer ceremony for the U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, Foreign Service officer Sean Smith, and security officers Tyrone S. Woods and Glen A. Doherty at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Sept. 14, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • rmy Chaplain Col. J. Wesley Smith delivers remarks at the dignified transfer ceremony for U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, Foreign Service officer Sean Smith, and security officers Tyrone S. Woods and Glen A. Doherty at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Sept. 14, 2012. The four men were killed during a Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Steele C.G. Britton
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta escorts Hungarian Defense Minister Csaba Hende through an honor cordon at the Pentagon Sept. 14, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • President Barack Obama, second from left, is joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, far left, Paralympic swimmer Brad Snyder, center, Olympic fencer Mariel Zagunis, second from right, and Vice President Joe Biden during an event to honor members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams at the White House in Washington, D.C., Sept. 14, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo by Desiree N. Palacios
  • Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta looks on as Hungarian Defense Minister Csaba Hende signs the guest book at the Pentagon, Sept. 14, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks with a NATO chairman of defense in Sibiu, Romania, Sept. 14, 2012. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
  • Chairmen of defense observe the opening ceremony for the NATO conference in the main square of Sibiu, Romania, Sept. 14, 2012. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
  • U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, left, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shakes hands with Romanian Air Force Lt. Gen. Stefan Danila, chief of general staff, in Sibiu, Romania, Sept. 14, 2012. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
  • Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter presents the Management Excellence Medal to Elliot Branch at the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals Gala in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter joins Elliot Branch after presenting him with the Management Excellence Medal at the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals Gala in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
  • A U.S. service member assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah shares a laugh with villagers while conducting interviews during a civil affairs mission in Dizak village in Afghanistan's Farah province, Sept. 12, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Benjamin Addison
  • A Marine fires his M4 Carbine at a target during a fire-team rushing exercise on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 8, 2012. The Marine is assigned to Battalion Landing Team 3/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Chris Stone
  • An F-15E Strike Eagle receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during an aerial refueling mission over the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 10, 2012. The Strike Eagle is assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing and the Stratotanker is assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ethan Morgan
  • U.S. Navy aircraft land aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise during nighttime flight operations while under way in the Arabian Sea, Sept. 8, 2012. The Enterprise is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Stephen Wolff
  • The aircraft carrier USS George Washington sails through calm seas near Guam at sunset while under way in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 8, 2012. The George Washington is the centerpiece of Carrier Strike Group 5, the US Navy’s only continuously forward deployed carrier strike group, based out of Yokosuka, Japan. Carrier Strike Group 5 is currently on a routine Western Pacific patrol. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Kelly

The Pentagon Channel

  • Streaming Live!

    Video Thumbnail: Streaming Live!

    "Serving Those Who Serve" with anytime, anywhere access to military news and information.

  • Obama: Slain diplomatic staffers had a mission, believed in it

    Video Thumbnail: Obama: Slain diplomatic staffers had a mission, believed in it

    The Commander in Chief and top State and Defense Department leaders go to Joint Base Andrews for a transfer of remains ceremony for the bodies of four slain embassy workers.

  • DoD celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

    Video Thumbnail: DoD celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

    The Defense Department honors servicemembers and civilians during Hispanic Heritage Month.

  • Shinseki links substance abuse, veteran homelessness

    Video Thumbnail: Shinseki links substance abuse, veteran homelessness

    Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki says substance abuse is the leading cause of veteran homelessness.