With bated breath, we wait to see what Senate confirmation hearings and the actual performance of the newly nominated Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz (and Vice Chief Lt. Gen. William M. Fraser III) will bring. We do note this cautionary tale about Donley mentioned by Tony Capaccio of Bloomberg News in an article yesterday:
Donley is no stranger to controversy. He was acting Air Force Secretary in 1993 when then-Defense Secretary Les Aspin fired an Air Force general and disciplined two others and a top civilian official for mismanagement of the C-17 transport program. The program in its early years faced major cost overruns and schedule delays.
Aspin acted in spite of a report by Donley that recommended against disciplinary action, according to a May 1993 Chicago Tribune report. Aspin, in a statement, said, ``I disagree with this judgment,'' according to the Tribune.
Donley's report disagreed with an assessment by the Pentagon inspector general that discovered major management problems.
After the dramatic and largely unexpected firings of Secretary Michael Wynne and Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael "Buzz" Moseley last week, essentially decapitating the Air Force, there have been a flurry of rumors over why Defense Secretary Robert Gates made this move: Was it just the stated reason of the weak management accountability regarding security of nuclear warheads and other sensitive components? Was it the "borderline insubordination" Gates felt from senior Air Force leaders over keeping the F-22 line open? Did it have something to do with the Thunderbirds contract scandal?
Yet the more important speculation is over what the future holds for the troubled and oft-targeted Air Force: Will the installation of the first non-fighter or bomber pilot in the Air Force's top military command slot since it was created after World War II mean a shift in its mission emphasis? Will the Air Force prioritize the support of ground forces with cargo and refueling planes and tactical aerial intelligence and close air support over aerial combat?
Most importantly though, will Gates' move change the Air Force culture to one of accountability and focus on fighting and winning wars, rather than defending turf and the dollars and power that goes with it?
Several months ago Gates' referenced the late Colonel John Boyd in a speech to young officers at Maxwell Air Force Base. Folks like Boyd never made it to general because they were more interested in doing what was truly best for the Air Force and the nation, rather than playing the promotion game. If Gates' shakeup of the Air Force creates lasting positive change, patriotic officers in the Air Force won't have as great of a dilemma in choosing whether to advance their career or do what's best. As Gates encouraged the officers at Maxwell, "be part of the solution and part of the future." That's something to which we can all tip our hat.
-- Nick Schwellenbach
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