The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia is looking ahead to “a very tight fiscal environment” for Fiscal 2008 and so wants to offer up to 225 civilians the opportunity to take voluntary early retirement or separation, says Robert Williams, deputy director of personnel. Anyone who takes this buyout would have to leave federal service by Nov. 2, reports Holly Birchfield. Just last month, the center indicated that it had forestalled nonvoluntary measures to reduce its workforce for this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. With this new voluntary effort, the center expects to be able “to refresh and replenish” its aging workforce, while staying within expected funding levels, says Williams.
The F-35 Joint Program Office has officially announced plans to issue multiple sole-source contracts to Pratt & Whitney to upgrade the fighter’s F135 engine—a widely expected move after Pentagon officials indicated they would do so earlier this year instead of developing an entirely new engine.