The Air Force is facing many key leadership vacancies with a slew of recent resignations. Additionally, there is also a leadership vacuum in many 3- and 4-Star billets across the Air Force due to a showdown with Senator McCain (see previous posts here and here).
A colleague of mine posed an interesting question: With so many key billets empty, who is left to execute Title 10 responsibilities for the Air Force? {see update below}
In other words, without civilian oversight, is the Air Force able to make decisions on new programs and policies? This is especially interesting in light of the QDR, the FY2008 Program Objective Memorandum, and the Budget Enactment Process and Hearings for FY2006.
From the Government Printing Office Website:
TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES
Subtitle D--Air Force
PART I--ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 803--DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCESec. 8011. Organization
The Department of the Air Force is separately organized under the Secretary of the Air Force. It operates under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense.
Other Questions:
- - Why have so many people left so suddenly? {see update below}
- - Why is it taking longer to vet suitable nominations? {see update below}
- - If succession cannot be accomplished, does control revert back to the Secretary of Defense? {see update below}
- - If so, what kind of decisions will Secretary Rumsfeld make on behalf of the Air Force?
Here is what Title 10 prescribes for succession:
Sec. 8017. Secretary of the Air Force: successors to duties
If the Secretary of the Air Force dies, resigns, is removed from office, is absent, or is disabled, the person who is highest on the following list, and who is not absent or disabled, shall perform the duties of the Secretary until the President, under section 3347 \1\ of title 5, directs another person to perform those duties or until the absence or disability ceases:
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\1\ See References in Text note below.
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(1) The Under Secretary of the Air Force.
(2) The Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force, in the order prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force and approved by the Secretary of Defense.
(3) The General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force.
(4) The Chief of Staff.References in Text
Section 3347 of title 5, referred to in text, was repealed and a new section 3347 was enacted by Pub. L. 105-277, div. C, title I, Sec. 151(b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-611, and, as so enacted, no longer contains provisions authorizing the President to direct temporary successors to duties. See section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Under Secretary Teets resigned last Friday, Assistant Secretary Dominguez is the only remaining Assistant Secretary, the General Counsel is still in place, and the Chief of Staff's term ends this Fall.
I haven't been able to find out whether nominations have been made to fill these posts. If any reader has any knowledge please post a comment. {see update below}
Second, what are the implications if these positions go unfilled? Again, please post a comment if you know the answer.
UPDATE: My wife (thank goodness for spouses), showed me an article appearing in the local paper...it also appears in the WaPo by Renae Merle and reports:
"The Defense Department announced yesterday that its acquisition chief temporarily will take over supervision of nearly two dozen procurement programs from the Air Force, which has been operating for months without several of its top civilian leaders..."
"...The White House declined to comment on when it would nominate a new Air Force secretary and it is unclear how long the arrangement will last. The Pentagon asked the Air Force to provide a list of all significant decisions scheduled during the next six months."
The Air Force said in a statement that it "welcomes [the Pentagon's] guidance and oversight."
In my rush this morning, I skipped reading Aim Points (my mistake) which also links this story.
In any case, though I understand why the Pentagon is doing this, I do not believe this is healthy for the Air Force in the long run...despite the official happy face.
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