Missing In Action

Defense Secretary Gates this week told Congress that DOD’s acquisition system is suffering from an inordinate number of vacant positions.

As reported in the Air Force Association’s daily report, Gates yesterday told the Senate Armed Services Committee that over the past eight years, there has been “difficulty in bringing in qualified senior acquisition officials” and that during that time, the average vacancies in key service acquisition slots has ranged “from 13 percent in the Army to 43 percent in the Air Force.”

DOD needs to fill these seats – the acquisition system is challenged enough with constantly changing budgets, requirements, and Congressional interference. Seems we fiddle while Rome burns.