Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates will hold a media availability at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas at 2 p.m. EDT. Media interested in attending should contact Oscar Balladares at (210) 671-2900.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England has no public or media events on his schedule.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, will host the Israeli Chief of Defense Forces, Lt.Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, for a full honors ceremony on Thursday, July 24 at 12:30 p.m. at the Pentagon Parade Field outside the River Entrance. Media interested in filming or photographing the honors ceremony should contact Ms. Jennifer Harrington or Mr. Rick Ecker in the Chairman's Public Affairs Office at (703) 571-9476/9477. Media need to be in place by 11:45 p.m.

Army Col. Tom James, commander of the 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division will brief live from Iraq at 9 a.m., July 24, in the DoD Briefing Room, Pentagon 2E579, to provide an update on ongoing security operations in Iraq. Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the North Parking Entrance only. Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification. Please call (703) 697-5131 for escort into the building.