Air Force Secretary Eyed For Top Army Job

InsideDefense.com ^ | 1 May 03 | Christopher J. Castelli, Daniel G. Dupont and Amy Butler

[SLB]

The Bush administration wants Air Force Secretary James Roche to be the next Army secretary, InsideDefense.com has learned.

Two industry sources tracking the issue said Roche is the favorite to fill the shoes of outgoing Army Secretary Thomas White, who recently resigned at the request of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Whether Roche will accept the position remains to be seen.

Roche is viewed as a trusted aide who could “fix” problems in the Army, said one of the sources, noting Rumsfeld's well-publicized disagreements with White and outgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki.

White's effective date of resignation is May 9; Shinseki is due to leave the service about a month later. No nominee for chief of staff has been announced, but many sources believe U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Tommy Franks is Rumsfeld's top pick.

Bryan Whitman, a senior Defense Department spokesman, said President Bush would announce the nomination of the next Army secretary “when the time is right,” adding that DOD does not “speculate” about such announcements. A top aide to Roche issued a similar statement.

“Until the president announces his intent to nominate a candidate, all is speculation or rumor,” William Bodie, special assistant to Roche and director of Air Force communications, said April 30. “As a longstanding policy, we do not address rumors or speculation.”

A 23-year Navy veteran, Roche retired from the sea service with the rank of captain in 1983. He served as Democratic staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee before joining Northrop Grumman in 1984, where he held top positions until he left in 2001. Roche was nominated by the White House to be Air Force secretary on May 7, 2001, and confirmed by the Senate on May 24, 2001.

Roche and Rumsfeld have known each other for years and share a close relationship, according to another industry official. Vacancies in the service secretary positions are hard to fill now that Bush is more than halfway through his first term, the industry official said.

A Pentagon official predicted many in the Army would be upset by the selection of Roche. White's dismissal has already angered some in the service, as did the leak of Rumsfeld's preferred successor to Shinseki more than a year ago. That candidate, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Keane, later took himself out of the running.

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[SLB]

You gotta be kidding!

What's next an Admiral to head up the Air Force?

[SLB]

Some of you are probably delighted. Some of you are dumber than I ever gave you credit for. If the shoe fits - put it on and wear it!

[TankerKC]

What's next an Admiral to head up the Air Force?

Roche is a retired Navy 0-6 anyway.

I don't know why Roche would take this demotion. ;)

[meenie]

Somebody experienced in the submarine fleet would do nicely. Changing times require changing ideas.

[BenR2]

For various reasons the Bush Administration (esp. Rumsfeld) and the Department of Army have been at war for several years.

There seems to be no sign of let-up in the ongoing hostilities.

As an outsider, I would have to say that there is fault on both sides. The Army has become the preserve of Democrats -- and Rumsfeld apparently all but despises the Army (with the exception of its Special Forces, which he apprently loves).

[sauropod]

Ain't nothing like Rummy rubbing the red-headed stepchild of a Service's face in the ground.

Again.

[Poohbah]

The Army got very nasty about Crusader getting canceled. They also refused to acknowledge that their own "don't tell, even when asked" briefing technique is what killed the program.

[Tin-Legions]

BenR2 wrote:"The Army has become the preserve of Democrats"

Ive been in the Army the last 11 years, with only a two year break while in college, when I was in the Air Force Natl. Guard. As a officer now, I disagree with your statement, but if you instead infer that our top leadership has become infected with the PC virus, you are indeed correct. Legal largess and feminism have done some serious damage, but I don't think many of our leaders are democrat supporters. There is a large minority that will tend that way-as the Services have become another welfare state for many.

My take is that generally this transformation concept for lighter forces is based on some weak history, and no doubt has many politicians licking at the chops for new weapons contracts-but many of our top leadership, trained in the arts of war, and learned in military history, know better than to think that the day of the heavy division is gone.

For our most recent example: does anyone seriously believe that a division sized element composed of vehicles/units like the Styker IBCT could have achieved the same results that a heavy division like the 3rd ID achieved? Even the lighter USMC divisions there were heavily reinforced with most of their independent, M1A1 armed tank battalions. Crusader armed artillery batteries could have come in very handy in the Gulf with their superior fire control and ammunition possibilities.

BL: the Army holds onto it's heavy units because history has proved that while slow to deploy, they are war winning tools-the Soviets proved that light-wheeled mech forces are nothing but soft skin targets for ill-trained irregulars with very cheap anti-tank rockets ala RPG/LAW.

[Light Speed]

I think the real deal is the Bush admin wanting a power revamp in regards to compliance in the U.S. State Dept and Pentagon.

Since Sept 11th...many conflicting views and political manuvers have flowed...some so clear that Russian media leaks comments that there is a rift in the State Dept and CFR[Council on Foreign Relations].

Years ago Zbigniew Brzenzski wrote his CFR vision "The Grand Chessboard...Americas Primacy and Geostrategic Imperatives"....the division of Asia and Eurasisa ..coupled with all the tangables for why.

Here America has followed this format...really..as She is now in many of the "Stans" that Zbigniew lists out.

This requires a different Military projection..Policy and Foreign relations stream....

Hense..the friction and tension now in the many halls of power....commented upon too by Europe and Russian media.

Oil and economics are prime mover here.

Theres info on whats going on in the "Stans" out there....things like financial contracts in regards to airfields being used.....cash per plane parked...cash per plane flown.....concession to generate wealth in the economy's of the Stans...sort of ..."If your here..your going to pay us"...

And its gets weasely ..like Mussarref of Pakistan.

So its out there...you can read it at the Paranoid of the future sites....or follow it via the Intel like Janes..Stratfor...Monterry Strategic.

Russia is not happy camper....allthough She is getting fairly good U.S. Dollar intake from Her Caspian Basin to Europe oil/gas contracts with many...She finds herself very limited in the "New projects"..which are taking oil/gas to the Orient,

Iraqs oil is low Sulphur...a coupe for processing savings...where as Caspian oil is contaminated..requiring major refinement to bring its grade quality up.

Before...Russia was happy to have the Oil/gas to Europe...climing up from the floor..recover from the loss of income via weapons sales.

Now Her economy is hinged on oil/gas pricing and market demand..which is not chugging allong like expected...Russia is seeing demand drop...Dollar value drop..and seeing itself left with only ..."A piece of the action".

All this plays 24 with Russia's historic mental insecurity thingy : )

[CasearianDaoist]

I don't think that the IBCT will last too long after Sheneski's departure. Since you are active, I would like your cut on the "future combat systems" roll out. What is up here?

[Wally Cleaver]

Maybe a contractor running the Army.

[Fred Mertz]

It would have to be a yes-man contractor.

[river rat]

It is clear....

Rumsfeld is determined to put clenched teeth warriors in charge...... NOT the squat to pee, slack jawed, mouth breathers that have been running the Army for too long...

He is looking for warriors that will take the fight to the enemy and overrun his positions and either kill them or drive them off..

He is NOT interested in protracted battles of set pieces, with forces firing artillery at each other....

(I am NOT biased, really!)

Semper Fi

[river rat]

"It would have to be a yes-man contractor."

Now there you go again!.....

Only a fool would select "Nay sayers" or "wrong headed clymers" as staff-- when you have the responsibility to rebuild a military establishment to meet the challenges of the current century....

A military that MUST be competent and capable of defending not only the United States --- but those allies that rely upon us...

So long as Rummy and his SELECTED staff accomplish the tasks ahead - with the same excellence as the tasks they have completed --- he must be given his head....

You don't shoot the winning horse..if you want to win the race.

Semper Fi

[sauropod]

Not true. Speaking as one that "is familiar with the program" OSDPA&E had their guns on Crusader since at least 1996.

They merely succeeded. 'Pod

[sauropod]

Basically Common Chassis all over again;.

[sauropod]

Uh-huh.

Do I really have to trot out my Jarhead jokes?

[river rat]

Not really...after 43+ years since boot camp, I've probably heard and laughed at most of them...

Semper Fi

[BenR2]

The Army got very nasty about Crusader getting canceled. They also refused to acknowledge that their own "don't tell, even when asked" briefing technique is what killed the program.
///
Exactly how did the Army get "nasty" about Crusader. (I don't consider talking points in one's behalf "nasty," personally.) Unwise? Perhaps. Risky? Of course. But nasty? Not sure that word fits. (However you may be more alive to what went on than I am.)

Also, please clarify what you mean by the "don't tell even when asked" briefing technique -- and how and where did the Army use it to their undoing with respect to the Crusader program. I was not aware of this angle, to be honest.

[Light Speed]

Was researching some comments by Sec Rumsfeld in ragards to F-22 program

Excerpt from Global Security

In mid-2002 the Defense Department was assessing the F-22 program as part of a review directed by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that called for an option to reduce the quantity of program to 180 from 295. That's less than one-fourth the initial plan for 750 planes. As of 2002, DOD had spent $26 billion of the $69 billion planned for the F-22 program. All four defense committees in Congress had approved the request for $4.6 billion in fiscal 2003 to buy 23 aircraft; 10 were being purchased in FY2002. Air Force officials announced 07 November 2002 a potential cost overrun of up to $690 million in the engineering, manufacturing and development phase of the F/A-22 program. The potential overrun appeared to be related to achieving cost and schedule in the developmental phase of the program, officials said. It is not related to its technology or performance. The aircraft remains on schedule for first aircraft delivery in 2004 and initial operational capability in 2005 as planned. The projected overrun is about 3.3 percent of the program's $20 billion development phase and about 1 percent of the program's $69.7 billion estimated total pricetag. The Pentagon approved an $876 million restructure to finance the extended development effort. The restructure sliced $763 million from the procurement profile, cutting 49 airframes from years 2004 to 2009. This decision brought the procurement profile from 325 to 276 through FY-09

Rumsfelds restructure almost paralells the cost overun conceeded...

Find the same dynamic with Crusader...ie..the overuns.

From what I have seen of Rumsfeld..It appears he does not like to get spotlight time infront of questioners on the Hill..where these..F-22 /Crusader and others...Osprey?...find him having to explain.

There is a different Military/Geostrategic projection occuring...outsourcing concerns for bases and time schedule allignment for RO/RO and predeployment assets seem to have his focus.

When looking in on Rummy concerning JSF and foreign contracts..ie Canada's part in the JSF program ,a different Rummy appears in public realtions...being more confident and optimistic .

With Rummy you can see what He likes ..and what makes him bristle.