The New Authority

The New Authority: Once the source selection is made on the next go-round for the KC-X tanker program (see above), the Air Force will resume the lead role in executing the program, said Pentagon acquisition chief John Young, who has been tapped by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to lead the latest tanker selection process. Young told reporters Wednesday that a revised request for proposals addressing all of the concerns raised by the GAO will be issued late this month or in early August. He expects to award the tanker contract by the end of December. Young also said he’s still hopeful that the tanker can be fielded in Fiscal 2013, but noted it will be a “day-by-day” delay as the competition is refought. Both he and Gates called the need to get new tankers rolling off the assembly line “urgent” and said they will push to minimize further delay. Air Force acquisition chief Sue Payton will handle the details of answering GAO’s concerns. Young also said that although he’s a big fan of fly-offs, in this case, it would be too expensive and not yield much value. It’s OK for the Pentagon to accept “some risk” in relying on what he considers a manageable modification to commercial airliners to get the needed capability. Besides, there will be a “KC-Y and KC-Z” competition for more tankers down the road, he said. Young also dismissed any chance of a split buy, noting that it would actually retard competitive savings by giving a guaranteed minimum buy to each company.

7/10/2008

Verbatim

Appreciative Host
"I know you're here during a difficult time. You're here through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. I promise you, we will find turkeys."
—Republic of Lithuania Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, expressing his thanks to airmen of the 493rd Fighter Squadron from RAF Lakenheath, Britain, who on Sept. 1, 2010, began a four-month stint with their F-15s in Lithuania to protect the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under NATO's Baltic air policing mission.

Verbatim

Family Momentum
"In many ways, this was what the Year of the Air Force Family was all about—connecting airmen and their families with the resources they need. I have confidence the Air Force will capitalize on this strong momentum in the years ahead by continuing to improve our family support programs and ensuring people know what resources are available."
—Suzie Schwartz, wife of USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, commenting on the accomplishments of the Year of the Air Force Family initiative that concluded in July, in a statement provided to the Daily Report, Aug. 22, 2010.