Mullen: New Air Force picks based on talent

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Mullen: New Air Force picks based on talent
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jun 11, 2008 6:09:12 EDT

Collective talent, more than background, was the primary consideration when Defense Secretary Robert Gates settled on his nominees to fill the top two leadership slots in the Air Force, the Joint Chiefs chairman said Tuesday.

“In my view, you go into this kind of search and decision trying to get the best people,” said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, speaking with reporters in Washington. “And it’s my belief — and I endorsed this decision — wholly, certainly, from the military standpoint — that that decision has been both wrung out well and made.”

The jobs were vacated when Gates on Friday forced the resignations of the Air Force secretary, Michael Wynne, and chief of staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, over what he said were significant and systemic problems with the security and handling of nuclear weapons materials.

Much has been made of the fact that neither the prospective chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz, nor his nominated No. 2, Lt. Gen. William Fraser, is a fighter pilot, although both are fliers. If confirmed, Schwartz, an AC-130 special operations flier, would be the first non-fighter pilot to serve as chief in the past 26 years. Fraser, who currently serves as Mullen’s assistant, is a B-52 bomber pilot.

In a parallel move, Gates recommended that the current vice chief of staff, Gen. Duncan McNabb, take Schwartz’s place as the commander of U.S. Transportation Command. McNabb is a transport aircraft flier with time in both the C-141 and C-17.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/06/military_mullen_airforce_061008w/