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Schwartz slams retired generals in contracting

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz took aim at retired generals working for defense contractors involved in the tanker dispute while also announcing a new career track for unmanned aerial vehicle pilots during his speech Tuesday at the Air Force Association’s annual conference in Washington D.C.

“I’m speaking of the unfortunate deterioration of the relationship between the Air Force and industry that of late manifests hyperbole, insensitivity and a lack of proper communication,” he said.

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Full text of Gen. Schwartz’s speech

“My personal view is that military professionals including those who have retired from active service have an obligation to refrain from taking sides in public debates on key acquisition programs.”

Awkward applause from the crowd, packed with current and retired Air Force generals, followed Schwartz’s critiques.

Yesterday, Schwartz and Secretary Michael Donley said a decision on the tanker could be delayed as much as four years because of the failed acquisition process for the Air Force tanker that will replace the KC-135 and KC-10.

Schwartz also explained how the “insatiable” demand for Predator and Reaper missions over Iraq and Afghanistan has led to the need for more UAV pilots.

The Air Force will immediately start taking pilots straight from undergraduate pilot training while also setting up a new career track for UAV pilots to fill that need, Schwartz said.

In the near term the Air Force will start sending UPT graduates straight to fly UAVs during their first tour. One hundred pilots will be selected each year for as many years as this type of need remains, Schwartz said.

Air Force officials said last week these pilots will return to flying manned aircraft after this first tour, which will last three to four years.

Starting in January, a group of 10 active duty officers — not pilots — will be the first to test if the Air Force could develop a pipeline of pilots that would fly only UAVs during their careers.

Concerning the nuclear problems that have plagued the Air Force, Schwartz said fixing those problems is his top priority. He said he plans to address these issues with Air Force and Defense Department officials at the service’s Nuclear Summit scheduled to meet on Thursday.

Schwartz said yesterday Air Force leaders have read the report released Sept. 12 by the Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Management into the Air Force’s nuclear enterprise and will the discuss the task force’s recommendation to align all Air Force nuclear missions under Air Force Space Command and rename it Air Force Strategic Command.

Discuss: Schwartz’s remarks