Military Times Capitol Hill bureau chief Leo Shane III and Politico defense reporter Jacqueline Klimas join Francis for this edition of the Pentagon Beat. They discuss President Trump's announcement of a transgender ban for the military as well as the Navy's push for a 355-ship fleet.

Rory Cooper, director of human engineering research laboratories at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses the work that won him a 2017 nomination for the Service to America Medals.

Stan Soloway, CEO of Celero Strategies and former deputy undersecretary of defense & acquisition reform, discusses an innovation program that targets middle-aged bureaucrats.