Posted on 06/09/2008 10:24:06 AM PDT by jazusamo
WASHINGTON -- In a sign of how urgently he wants to shake up the Air Force, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced today he was appointing the first non-fighter pilot to become the service's chief of staff in more than 25 years.
The nomination of Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, who is currently head of the Pentagon's transportation command and rose through the ranks as a pilot of military cargo planes, marks a significant break for the Air Force, which has been led by fighter and bomber pilots almost since its inception after World War II.
In his announcement naming Schwartz, Gates not only emphasized the general's role in transportation aircraft, but also noted his long list of assignments in so-called joint commands -- positions where senior officials work in units made up of officers from all four military services.
Gates also named Michael Donley, a veteran Pentagon bureaucrat who currently is the administrative and management chief of the department, to be Air Force secretary, the department's top civilian.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I like the Bomber pilots. They are psychologically screened even more at least thats what one told me.
I’ll agree with you, also. There is no question the USAF has had more than a few insufferable fighter jocks, some of whom made it to the upper reaches. The good far out-number the bad.
Reading “In Search of Excellence” and borrowing from Japanese manufacturing practices does not a leader make. Egalitarian utopia has no place in the military. Funny looking uniforms don’t belong, either.
McPeak has already come out in FAVOR of the new guy - says he’s a fine officer, good priorities, etc.
That alone scares the hell out of me. Hope it is just more McPeak blather.
Perish the thought!!! Yikes, now I’m going to have nightmares. Already had enough of that idiot.
No, but no surprise, either. You just don't get to be a *player* at that level without being co-opted by this group, or one of its spinoffs. To those who say that the CFR is "just a debiting society", answer me one question...
Why is it that every top-level position in the foreign-policy, or national defense/security fields being taken by somebody from this, or one of its spinoff groups? Do you reasonably expect me, or anyone else in the American public to believe that anyone who is *not* "connected" in this fashion is unqualified to hold such a position?
The fact that this "simple debating society" has what amounts to a stranglehold monopoly on our foreign and defense/security policies, and has had this monopoly since before *I* was even born, should be cause for severe questioning...
the infowarrior
Start Googling flag-rank, and those who are on "fast-track" to flag rank officers. You'll have your answer, though I'm guaranteed you may not like it...
the infowarrior
Be careful when you write “Fighter Pilots”. When the USAF was created, Gen Curtis LeMay and his Strat Bomber Pilots ruled. Fighters were just something that flew beside the Strat bombers to provide cover. But I think you probably already knew that.
My take was the “Mobility Mafia” started its rise during Persian Gulf “One” as they moved 600K+ people and equipment into theater. I expect that the Mobility Mafia (Gen McNabb, Gen Lichte, Lt Gen Johns) will be the next in line for very senior USAF positions.
Sincerely,
JoMa
I believe you are referring to the Personal Reliability Program (PRP). And yes, it is something that you need to be in when you deal with nuclear weapons, to include any part of the program (Pilot, planner, maintenance etc).
JoMa
Indeed. Another blast from the past.
“He’s a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. That’s not a good sign.”
Geez - now there’s a shocker
I also just read that Obama is looking at “former Military Types” for VP
McPeak & Clark fit the CFR bill. If it’s Clark I wonder if he’ll consult with Madonna before accepting.
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