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New Air Force Nominations
By Bull Nav
OK, so today SECDEF announced his recommendations for nominations for Secretary and Chief of Staff:
WASHINGTON, June 9, 2008 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended that President Bush nominate Michael B. Donley, the Defense Department’s director of administration and management, to be the next secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, to become Air Force chief of staff.
I don't know anything about either of these folks, so I invite your feedback and comments.
Specifically for all you Air Force types (or those who deal with the AF on a regular basis), are the SECDEF's choices going to give you the type of leadership that is truly needed right now?
John Says: Yes! General Schwartz is a career tactical airlift/special forces flyer. I figured it'd be either someone with that type of background or a bomber pilot with experience in the nuclear delivery mission. This is a historic hand off -- fighter pilots have ruled for a long time. Now command goes to a man who has spent his life in the tactical, black world. So is it safe to say that the rise of the Special Forces is complete?
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I'm focusing on his experience as a C-130 pilot. First there was the Reign of the SAC bomber Pilots, then there was the dreaded Fighter mafia. Sounds like Gates is shaking things up by running a cargo man.
I Hope to see some improvements in the nuts and bolts areas. Things like logistics, acquisitions, retention. Hopefully appearances, new uniforms, and gee whiz weapons platforms will go away. For the longest we've focused on not just just being the worlds best airforce, but being on the bleeding edge of technology and lethality.
We've talked a lot of smack, and fielded a few nice weapons platforms, but we're hurting in simple ways that need immediate attention.
The AF is looking like a bad basketball team. We got FA-22s that can slam dunk, but the bombers are can't dribble, the C-5s can't pass, The F-15s are fouling out, and the KC-135s need a bench rest bad.
IMHO its time to crack back down to the fundamentals for a while.
Donley is a nice guy but kind of a boring functionary type. Not even an Air Force guy, despite being acting SecAF before - he was in the Army. Don't expect any great innovation from him, and he is certainly not going to rock the boat by pushing for the USAF's favorite toys. He will mark time and then return to the cushy world of consulting.
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"Now command goes to a man who has spent his life in the tactical, black world..." BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!