In 2004, Martin was nominated to succeed Admiral Thomas B. Fargo as combatant commander of U.S. Pacific Command, the first non-Navy nominee for this prestigious post. However, he suffered collateral damage from the Darleen Druyun procurement scandal. During his October 6 confirmation hearing for the Pacific Command post before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator John McCain asked how Druyun’s deceit had gone unnoticed. Martin, who had worked closely with Druyun in 1998-99 while he held the position of Principal Deputy in acquisition said in response “I’m not an expert in contracting,” and “I saw nothing that she was doing that was inappropriate or in any way illegal, and if I had, I would have immediately raised a Red Flag!.” McCain replied, “Now I question whether you have the quality to command”. McCain called the Boeing deal “a national disgrace”, and vowed to hold Martin’s nomination in the Senate Armed Services Committee “until we get all of the e-mails and all of the answers.” Committee Chairman John W. Warner supported McCain, and Martin withdrew his name the same day and returned to his duties as the Commander of the Air Force Materiel Command until his scheduled retirement in August 2005. Seven months later, Senator McCain completed his review of the e-mails and there were no indications that General Martin had any knowledge of Druyun’s improprieties. Prior to this setback, Martin had been considered the likely successor to Air Force Chief of Staff John P. Jumper. Martin retired from the Air Force on September 1, 2005. He is currently a chair of the National Academies Air Force Studies Board, has served as an unaligned advisor to John Edwards’ presidential campaign, is on the advisory board of a consultancy firm The Four Star Group, is board member and retired chairman of the Durango Group, and has served in other Pentagon capacities and been a consultant to “many defense sector firms.”
Thank you, FRiend. “combatant commander of U.S. Pacific Command” How amusing, an air force guy commanding the fleet. I always suspected he was working for/at the same company I referenced in my comment, one way or another.
I forgot, there was a whole lot of politics going on with the Boeing deal. Thank you.