If the House Armed Services readiness panel has its way, the Pentagon would establish a permanent corrosion policy and oversight office directly under the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Currently, there is a corrosion office about “three layers removed” from the undersecretary, according to the panel’s Fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill markup statement. The subcommittee also notes that “corrosion is a $10 billion problem for DOD, but this year’s budget provides only $14 million for the corrosion office.” The authorizers also want the Pentagon to submit an annual report detailing long-term strategy and the savings recouped and explaining how it arrived at its funding request based on requirements.
The Air Force has finished resurrecting a B-1B Lancer, completing a yearslong process to transform a bomber that had been stored for parts in the Arizona desert into the new flagship of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.