Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth Fires Strategic Planning Chief Bret Sylvia “Earlier this week, the Pentagon's top planner, Lt. Gen. Bret Sylvia, was fired from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. No explanation was given," the Atlantic reported. It is not yet known who will take his position. Among the reasons for the dismissal were a loss of trust, as well as disagreements between the general and the Pentagon's deputy head of political affairs, Elbridge Colby.