Pentagon boss Bob Gates plans to remain at his post at least through 2010. He entered the job under the Bush Administration, replacing Donald Rumsfeld in December 2006, and has remained there at the request of President Obama. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told Pentagon reporters late last week that Obama and Gates “agreed to revisit this issue again later in the year, but for all intents and purposes, their original agreement still stands: [Gates] serves at the pleasure of the President indefinitely, and he is honored to do so.” (AFPS report by Jim Garamone)
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.
