That sentiment did not sway John Thune (R-S.D.), who reminded Wynne that, as acting deputy secretary of acquisition, logistics, and technology, Wynne himself had played a “major role” in developing the BRAC recommendations. Thune, who had fought hard to get the BRAC commission to remove Ellsworth AFB, S.D., from the bases marked for closure by the Pentagon, asked for Wynne’s assurance that as Air Force Secretary he would not thwart efforts to enhance missions for bases previously slated for closure. Wynne replied: “As far as I’m concerned, the BRAC commission has ruled. … The past is past, and anything in the future will be reviewed on its own merits.”
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.