There is no doubt in Sen. John McCain’s view that not all Air Force culprits in the tanker-lease controversy (see above) have come to light. He pressed the point at Monday’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, repeatedly questioning Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty. Despite prodding by McCain, McNulty refused to provide a name, but he said a retired Air Force general officer is “still being looked at” in the course of an “on-going criminal investigation.” McCain maintained that his staff had been told by Boeing that the Justice Department had found the officer “did not violate the one-year cooling off period” while working on the tanker deal with Boeing. McNulty replied, “I’m not sure what the company has told the staff, but I will say that the matter is not closed.”
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.